red eve-第27章

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seen。　It　was　a　glitter　of　gold　and　marble；　and　rich　with　paintings。

Here　on　a　kind　of　throne　sat　the　Doge　Dandolo；　an　imperial…looking
man；　magnificently　attired。　Guards　stood　like　statues　behind　him；
while　in　front；　talking　together　and　moving　from　place　to　place；　were
gathered　all　the　great　nobles　of　Venice；　with　their　beauteous　ladies。
From　time　to　time　the　Doge　summoned　one　or　other　of　these；　who　was
called　to　him　by　a　black…robed　secretary。　Advancing　with　bows　the
courtier　talked　to　him　a　while；　then　was　dismissed　by　a　gracious
motion　of　the　hand。

As　the　Englishmen　entered　this　hall　a　herald　called　their　names　thus
from　a　written　slip　of　paper：

〃The　Cavalier　Geoffrey　Carleon；　Ambassador　of　England。　The　Cavalier
Hugh　de　Cressi；　Messenger　from　the　King　of　England；　and　the　Captain
Richard　Archer；　his　companion。〃

Now　all　talk　was　hushed　and　every　eye　turned　to　scan　these　strangers
of　whose　business；　it　would　seem；　something　was　already　known。

〃A　fine　man；〃　said　one　lady　to　another　of　Hugh；　〃but　why　does　he　come
here　in　dinted　armour？〃

〃Oh！　he　is　English　and　the　English　are　barbarians　who　like　to　be　ready
to　cut　some　one's　throat；〃　answered　her　companion。　〃But　Holy　Jesus！
look　at　the　long　fellow　with　the　death's　head　who　walks　behind　him；
and　carries　his　luggage　in　a　sack。　His　face　makes　my　back　creep。〃

Fortunately　neither　Hugh　nor　Dick　understood　these　and　other　such
sayings　which　Sir　Geoffrey　repeated　to　them　afterward　and　therefore
walked　on　with　their　host　unconcerned。　Once；　however；　Grey　Dick　nudged
his　master　and　whispered　in　his　ear：

〃Be　glad；　our　man　is　here。　It　is　he　who　mocks　us　to　those　popinjays。
Nay；　turn　not　to　look；　you　will　see　plenty　of　his　sweet　face
presently。〃

Now　they　stood　before　the　chair　of　state；　from　which　the　Doge　rose；
and　advanced　two　steps　to　greet　the　Ambassador　of　England。　When　these
courtesies　were　over　Sir　Geoffrey　presented　Hugh　to　him；　to　whom　he
bowed；　and　Dick；　whose　salute　he　acknowledged　with　a　wave　of　his
jewelled　hand。　Afterward　they　talked；　all　crowding　round　to　listen；
Sir　Geoffrey　himself；　who　spoke　Italian　well；　acting　as　the
interpreter。

〃You　come　hither；　Cavalier　de　Cressi；〃　said　the　Doge；　〃on　behalf　of
his　royal　Grace；　King　Edward；　who　speaks　of　you　in　his　letter　in　terms
of　which　any　knight　may　well　be　proud。　We　understand　that　this　captain
with　you　is　your　companion；〃　and　he　glanced　curiously　at　Dick　out　of
the　corners　of　his　dark　eyes；　adding；　〃If　those　are　gifts　which　he
bears　in　that　leathern　sack　and　the　long　case　in　his　hand；　let　our
servants　relieve　him　of　them。〃

〃Let　his　servants　leave　me　alone；〃　growled　Grey　Dick　when　this　was
translated。　〃Say　to　this　fine　lord；　Sir　Knight；　that　the　gifts　in　the
sack　are　not　for　him；　and　that　which　the　case　scatters　he　would
scarcely　care　to　have。〃

Sir　Geoffrey　made　some　explanation　in　a　low　voice；　and　with　a　smile
the　Doge　waved　the　matter　by；　then　said：

〃Will　the　noble　cavalier　be　so　good　as　to　set　out　his　business；　unless
it　is　for　our　private　ear　alone？〃

Hugh　answered　that　it　was　for　the　public　ear　of　all　Venice；　and
especially　for　that　of　the　lord　who　was　called　Sir　Edmund　Acour　in
England；　the　Count　de　Noyon　in　France；　and　the　Seigneur　of　Cattrina　in
Italy。

〃Will　you　pleased　to　point　out　this　lord　to　us；〃　said　the　Doge；
glancing　at　the　gorgeous　throng　which　was　gathered　behind　them。

〃I　cannot；　illustrious　Doge；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃that　is；　with　certainty。
As　it　chances　I　have　seen　his　face　but　twiceonce　in　a　marsh　when　I
had　other　things　to　think　of　who　must　watch　my　enemy's　sword；　and　once
at　eve　in　the　corner　of　a　dark　chapel；　where　he　had　just　gone　through
the　rite　of　marriage　with　a　lady　whom　he　had　drugged；　which　lady　was
my　affianced　wife。　Often　afterward　I　sought　to　see　that　face；
especially　in　the　great　fray　of　Crecy；　but　failed；　in　a　case　which
with　your　leave　I　will　narrate　to　you。〃

Now　when　all　that　company　understood　the　meaning　of　these　outspoken
words；　they　swayed　to　and　fro　and　whispered　like　reeds　in　an　evening
wind。　Presently　above　this　whispering　a　soft　yet　penetrating　voice　was
heard　to　say：

〃If　this　English　knight　desires　to　study　the　poor　face　of　Acour；　de
Noyon；　and　Cattrina；　he　who　owns　it　is　much　honoured　and　prays　your
Excellency's　leave　to　wait　upon　his　pleasure。〃

So　saying　a　tall　and　noble…looking　man；　who　wore　the　badge　of　a　white
swan　worked　in　pearls　upon　his　rich　tunic；　stepped　forward　out　of　the
ring　of　courtiers　and　bowed；　first　to　the　Doge　and　next　to　Hugh。

De　Cressi　looked　at　his　handsome　face　with　its　quick　dark　eyes　and
little；　square…cut；　black　beard；　and　answered：

〃I　thank　you；　Sir　Edmund　Acour；　for　I　take　it　you　are　he。　Now　I　shall
never　forget　you　again；　for　though　a　man　may　shift　his　armour　he
cannot　change　his　countenance〃a　saying　at　which　de　Noyon　coloured　a
little　and　looked　down　uneasily。

〃Cavalier　de　Cressi；　he　whom　you　seek　is　before　you；　we　ourselves
vouch　for　his　identity；〃　said　the　Doge。　〃Now　be　pleased　to　set　out
your　case。〃

〃My　private　case　I　thrust　to　one　side；〃　answered　Hugh；　Sir　Geoffrey
interpreting　all　the　time；　〃for　it　is　a　matter　between　this　Count；　a
certain　lady　and　myself；　and　can　wait。　That　which　I　have　to　lay　before
you；　Illustrious；　has　to　do　with　my　master　the　King　of　England；　as
whose　champion　I　am　here　to…day。　I　accuse　this　lord　of　the　three　names
of　black　treachery　to　his　august　liege；　Edward；　all　details　of　which
treason　I　am　prepared　to　furnish；　and　on　behalf　of　that　most　puissant
monarch　I　challenge　him　to　single　combat；　as　I　am　empowered　and
commissioned　to　do。〃

〃Why　should　I　fight　the　King　of　England's　bravoes？〃　inquired　Acour　in
a　languid　voice　of　those　who　stood　about　him；　a　question　at　which　they
laughed。

〃If　the　charge　of　treason　is　not　sufficient；〃　went　on　Hugh；　〃I'll　add
to　it　one　of　cowardice。　At　the　battle　of　Crecy；　as　a　man　here　will
bear　me　witness；〃　and　he　pointed　to　Dick；　〃I　overcame　in　single　combat
a　knight　who　wore　upon　his　shield　the　cognizance　of　a　wolf　and　on　his
helm　a　wolf's　head；　which　were　the　arms　of　Sir　Pierre　de　la　Roche。　At
this　knight's　prayer　I　spared　his　life；　for　that　day　we　took　no
prisoners；　and　let　him　go。　Afterward　I　fought　with　another　knight
carrying　the　cognizance　of　a　white　swan；　the　arms　of　the　Count　de
Noyon；　and　slew　him　in　fair　and　single　fight。　But　before　he　died　he
told　me　that　he　bore　that　armour　by　command　of　his　lord；　the　Count　de
Noyon；　and　that　the　said　Count　fought　that　day　in　his　mail　because　he
feared　the　vengeance　of　the　King　of　England　and　my　own。　Thus　it　came
about　that　the　Wolf　who　fought　paid　the　price　for　the　Swan　who　fled
away；　hid　in　the　armour　of　his　friend；　whom　he　left　to　die　for　him。〃

There　followed　a　great　silence；　for　all　those　noble　lords　and　ladies
who　thought　little　of　treason；　which　to　most　of　them　was　a　very
familiar　thing；　were　not　a　little　stirred　by　this　tale　of　cowardice
and　false　arms。　The　Doge　said：

〃Noble　Cattrina；　you　have　heard　the　story　of　the　English　knight。　What
do　you　answer　to　it？〃

〃Only　that　it　is　a　lie；　Illustrious；　like　everything　else　that　he　has
told　us；〃　replied　Acour　with　a　shrug　of　his　broad　shoulders。

〃You　said　that　you　had　a　witness；　Cavalier　de　Cressi；〃　said　the　Doge。
〃Where　is　he？〃

〃Here；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃Stand　forward；　Dick；　and　tell　what　you　saw。〃

Dick　obeyed；　and　in　his　low；　rasping　voice；　with　more　detail　than　Hugh
had　given；　set　out　the　story　of　those　two　combats　at　Crecy；　of　the
sparing　of　the　wolf　knight　and　the　slaying　of　the　swan　knight。

〃What　say　you　now；　noble　Cattrina？〃　asked　the　Doge。

〃I　say　that　the　man　lies　even　better　than　his　master；〃　answered　Acour
coolly；　and　all　the　Court　laughed。

〃Illustrious；〃　said　Hugh；　〃doubtless　you　have　some　herald　at　your
Court。　I　pray　that　he　may　fetch　his　book　and　tell　us　what　are　the　arms
of　de　Noyon　and　Cattrina；　with　all　their　colourings　and　details。〃

The　Doge　beckoned　to　an　officer　in　a　broidered　tabard；　who　with　bows；
without　needing　to　fetch　any　book；　described　the　crest　and　arms　of
Cattrina　in　full　particular。　He　added　that；　to　his　knowledge；　these
were　borne　by　no　other　family　or　man　in　Italy；　France；　or　England。

〃Then　you　would　know　them　if　you　saw　them？〃　said　Hugh。

〃Certainly；　cavalier。　On　it　I　stake　my　repute　as　a　herald。〃

Now　while　all　wondered　what　this　talk　might　mean；　the　Doge　and　Acour
most　of　any；　although　the　latter　grew　uneasy；　fearing　he　knew　not
what；　Hugh　whispered　to　Dick。　Then　Dick　loosed　the　mouth　of　the
leather　sack　he　carried；　and　out　of　it　tumbled　on　to　the　marble　floor
a　whole　suit　of　blood…stained　armour。

〃Whence　came　these？〃　asked　Hugh　of　Dick。

〃Off　the　body　of　the　night；　Sir　Pierre　de　la　Roche；　whom　you　slew　at
Crecy。　I　stripped　him　of　them　myself。〃

〃Whose　crest　and　cognizance　are　these；　herald？〃　asked　Hugh　again；
lifting　the　helm　and　shield　and　holding　them　on　high　that　all　might
see。

The　herald　stepped　forward　and　examined　them。

〃Without　doubt；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃they　are　those　of　the　lord　of
Cattrina。　Moreover；〃　he　added；　〃five　years　ago　I　limned　yonder　swan
upon　this　very　shield　with　my　own　hand。　I　did　it　as　a　favour　to
Cattrina　there；　who　said　that　he　would　trust　the　task　to　none　but　an
artist。〃

Now　the　silence　grew　intense；　so　much　so　that　the　rustle　of　a　lady's
dress　sounded　loud　in　the　great　hall。

〃What　say　you　now；　my　lord　of　Cattrina？〃　asked　the　Doge。

〃I　say　that　there　is　some　mistake；　Illustrious。　Even　if　there　were
none；〃　he　added　slowly；　〃for　their　own　good　and　lawful　purposes
knights　have　changed　armour　before　to…day。〃

〃There　is　no　mistake！〃　cried　Hugh　in　a　ringing　voice。　〃This　signor　of
so　many　names　is　a　signor　of　many　coats　also；　which　he　can　change　to
save　his　skin。　He　wore　that　of　Sir　Pierre　de　la　Roche　to　protect
himself　from　the　vengeance　of　the　King　of　England　and　of　the　English
squire　whom　he　had　wronged。　He　took　mercy　from　the　hand　of　that
squire；　who；　as　he　knew　well；　would　have　shown　him　none　had　he　guessed
the　truth。　He　left　the　poor　knight；　whom　he　had　bribed　to　be　his
double；　to　die　beneath　that　same　squire's　hand　who　thought　him　named
de　Noyon。　Therefore　the　blood　of　this　de　la　Roche　is　on　his　head。　Yet
these　are　small　matters　of　private　conduct；　and　one　that　is　greater
overtops　them。　This　false　lord；　as　Sir　Edmund　Acour；　swore　fealty　to
Edward　of　England。　Yet　while　he　was　bound　by　that　sacred　oath　he
plotted　to　depose　Edward　and　to　set　up　on　his　throne　the　Duke　of
Normandy。

〃The　King　of　England　learned　of　that　plot　through　me；　and　gave　me
charge　to　kill　or　capture　the　traitor。　But　when　we　came　face　to　face
in　a　consecrated　church　where　I　thought　it　sacrilege　to　draw　sword；
he；　who　had　just　done　me　bitter　wrong；　stayed　not　to　answer　the　wrong。
He　slunk　away　into　the　darkness；　leaving　me　felled　by　a　treacherous
blow。　Thence　he　fled　to　France　and　stirred　up　war　against　his　liege
lord　under　the　Oriflamme　of　King　Philip。　Now　that　this　banner　is　in
the　dust　he　has　fled　again　to　Venice；　and　here；　as　I　have　heard；
broods　more　mischief。　Once；　when　after　the　sack　of　Caen　I　sent　him　my
challenge；　he　returned　to　me　an　insolent　answer　that　he　did　not　fight
with　merchants'　sonshe　who　could　take　mercy　from　the　hand　of