red eve-第29章

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well！　So；　so；　regrets　are　vain；　de　Cressi　is　here；　and　must　be　faced
or　I　be　shamed。〃

〃You　may　be　killed　as　well　as　shamed；〃　Nicholas　suggested
unpleasantly。　〃It　is　certain　that　either　you　or　that　Englishman　will
die　to…morrow；　since　he's　set　for　no　fancy　tilting　with　waving　of
ladies'　kerchiefs　and　tinsel　crowns　of　victory；　and　so　forth。　Merchant
bred　or　not；　he　is　a　sturdy　fighter；　as　we　all　learned　in　France。
Moreover；　his　heart　is　full　with　wrong；　and　the　man　whose　quarrel　is
just　is　always　to　be　feared。〃

〃A　pest　on　you！〃　snarled　Cattrina。　〃Have　you　the　evil　eye　that　you
then　croak　disaster　in　my　ears？　Look　you；　priest；　I　must　come　through
this　game　unharmed。　Death　is　a　companion　I　do　not　seek　just　yet；　who
have　too　much　to　live　forpower　and　wealth　and　high　renown；　if　my
plans　succeed；　and　as　you　should　know；　they　are　well　laid。　Moreover；
there　is　that　English　girl；　Red　Eve；　my　wife；　from　whose　sweet　side
you　made　me　flee。　I　tell　you；　Nicholas；　I　burn　for　her　and　had　rather
taste　her　hate　than　the　love　of　any　other　woman　on　the　earth。　Now；
too；　the　Pope　has　summoned　me　to　Avignon；　and　her　also；　to　lay　our
causes　before　him。　Being　bold；　mayhap　she　will　come；　for　his　Holiness
has　sent　her　safe…conduct　under　his　own　hand。　Nor　has　he　mentioned
for　I　saw　a　copy　of　the　briefthat　the　same　business　will　take　me　to
Avignon　about　this　time。　Well；　if　she　comes　she　will　not　go　away　again
alone；　the　French　roads　are　too　rough　for　ladies　to　travel　unescorted。
And　if　she　does　not　come；　at　least　our　marriage　will　be　declared　valid
and　I'll　take　her　when　and　where　I　can；　and　her　wealth　with　her；　which
will　be　useful。〃

〃Only　then；　lord；　you　must　not　die；　nor　even　be　wounded；　to…morrow。　It
is　the　Englishman　who　should　die；　for　whatever　the　Pope　may　decree　I
think　that　while　de　Cressi　lives　the　slumbrous　eyes　of　that　Eve　of
yours　will　find　a　way　to　charm　you　to　a　sleep　that　has　no　wakening。
She　is　not　a　fair…haired　toy　that　weeps；　forgets　and　at　last　grows
happy　in　her　babe。　She's　a　woman　to　make　men　or　break　them。　Oh；　when
her　sense　came　back　to　her；　for　a　flash　she　looked　me　cold　yonder　in
that　English　chapel；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　God's　curse　was　in　her
stare。〃

〃You've　caught　the　terror；　Nicholas；　like　so　many　just　now　in　Venice。
Why；　to…day　I've　not　met　a　man　or　woman　who　is　not　afraid　of
something；　they　know　not　whatsave　the　Englishman　and　his　death's…
head。　I　think　'tis　the　unwholesome　air　of　this　strange　season；　and　all
the　signs　and　omens　we　hear　of　on　every　side　that　conjure　vapours　to
the　brain。〃

〃Yes；　I've　the　terror；〃　said　Nicholas　with　something　like　a　groan。
〃Every　sin　I　ever　didand　most　of　them　have　been　for　you；　lordseems
to　haunt　my　sleep。　Yes；　and　to　walk　with　me　when　I　wake；　preaching　woe
at　me　with　fiery　tongues　that　repentance　or　absolution　cannot　quench
or　still。〃

〃Yet；　Nicholas；　I　think　that　you　must　add　one　more　to　their　count；　or
a　share　of　it；　which　should　weigh　light　among　so　many。　Either　I　or　de
Cressi　must　pack　for　our　last　journey；　and　if　we　meet　face　to　face
to…morrow；　how　know　I　that　it　will　be　de　Cressi？　Better　far　that　we
should　not　meet。〃

〃Lord；　lord；　you　cannot　fly！　He　is　King　Edward's　champion；　so
proclaimed　before　all　whose　names　are　written　in　the　Golden　Book　of
Venice。　He　would　cry　your　shame　in　every　Court；　and　so　would　they。
There's　not　a　knight　in　Europe　but　would　spit　upon　you　as　a　dastard；
or　a　common　wench　but　would　turn　you　her　back！　You　cannot　fly！〃

〃Nay；　fool；　but　he　can　dieand　before　to…morrow。　What　makes　your
brain　so　dull；　Nicholas？　It　is　not　its　wont。〃

〃Ah；　I　seenot　flight；　murder。　I　had　forgotten；　it　is　not　a　usual
sauce　to　a　banquet　of　honour　even　in　Italy；　and　therefore；　perhaps；
the　safer　to　serve。　But　how　is　it　to　be　done？　Poison？　He　is　in
Carleon's　house；　Carleon　has　faithful　servants。　Though　perhaps　a
basket　of　rare　fruitsbut　then　he　might　not　eat　them；　those
Englishmen　live　mostly　on　half…raw　meat。　The　signora　would　probably
eat　them；　and　the　others。〃

〃Nay；　no　more　of　your　drugs；　your　skill　in　them　is　too　well　known。
Come；　these　men　have　been　watched　since　they　set　foot　in　Venice。　Have
they　offended　none　besides　myself　and　the　Swiss？〃

A　look　of　intelligence　crept　into　the　eyes　of　Nicholas。

〃Now　that　you　mention　it；　lord；　they　have。　There　is　a　certain　boatman
and　bravo　called　Giuseppe。　With　him　and　his　mates　they　quarrelled
about　their　fare　and　threw　them　into　the　canal　in　front　of　the
ambassador's　house；　just　because　they　drew　a　knife　or　two。　A　woman　I
know　told　me　of　it。　He's　a　great　villain；　this　Giuseppe；　who　would　do
anything　for　ten　pieces；　also　revengeful　and　a　hater　of　cold　water。〃

〃Send　for　him；　Nicholas；　or　send　this　woman　to　himthat　may　be　safer。
Ten　pieces！　I'll　pay　him　fifty。〃

〃Ay；　lord；　but　the　Englishman　may　not　give　him　a　chance。　Only　fools
would　go　out　walking　in　Venice　along　after　dark　if　they　should　happen
to　have　enemies　here；　and　the　house　is　watched　by　the　Doge's　Guards。
Yet　one　can　try。　Fortune　loves　the　brave；　and　Englishmen　are　very
great　fools。　They　might　stroll　abroad　to　see　the　moon　rise　over　the
Adriatic。〃

〃Try；　Nicholas；　try　as　you　never　tried　before。　Succeed；　too；　lest　you
and　I　should　part　company　and　you　never　be　named　abbot　after　all。〃



The　afternoon　of　the　day　of　their　reception　by　the　Doge　was　well
filled　for　Hugh　and　Dick。　Scarcely　had　they　eaten　with　their　host　when
the　Marshal　and　his　officers　arrived　with　the　articles　of　the　Morrow's
combat　very　fully　drawn　up；　each　of　which　must　be　considered　with　the
help　of　Sir　Geoffrey　Carleon；　lest　they　should　hide　some　trick；　before
they　confirmed　them　with　their　signatures。　Not　that　Hugh　was　over…
anxious　about　the　details。　As　he　said　to　Sir　Geoffrey；　all　he　sought
was　to　come　face　to　face　with　his　enemy；　even　if　he　had　but　a　club　for
a　weapon。

At　length　these　articles　were　signed　and　the　Marshal　departed　with　his
fee；　for　they　must　be　paid　for　as　though　they　were　a　legal　document。
Next　Hugh　must　try　various　horses　from　Sir　Geoffrey's　stable；　and
choose　one　of　them　as　his　war　steed　for　the　morrow；　since　the　beast　he
had　ridden　to　Venice　was　in　no　condition　to　bear　a　full…armed　knight。
In　the　end　he　selected　a　grey　gelding；　quiet　of　temperament　and　rather
heavy　of　build；　which　it　was　reported　had　been　used　by　its　former
owner　in　several　tournaments　and　there　borne　itself　handsomely。　This
done；　well　or　ill；　his　armour　must　be　seen　to；　and　Dick's　also；　such
as　it　was；　his　lance　tested；　and　all　their　other　weapons　sharpened　on
a　whetstone　that　Sir　Geoffrey　borrowed。　For　this　was　a　task　that　Grey
Dick　would　leave　to　no　other　hand。

At　length　all　was　prepared　as　well　as　possible　in　such　haste；　and　they
went　to　supper　with　Lady　Carleon；　who；　now　she　understood　that　they
were　to　fight　for　their　lives　on　the　morrow；　was　more　mournful　even
than　she　had　been　on　the　previous　night。　When　at　last　she　asked　what
they　desired　as　to　their　funerals　and　if　they　had　any　tokens　to　be
sent　to　friends　in　England；　Hugh；　whose　thoughts　were　already　sad
enough；　could　bear　no　more　of　it。　So　he　rose；　saying　that　he　would
seek　Sir　Geoffrey；　who　was　already　in　his　cabinet　engaged　upon　a
letter　to　King　Edward　descriptive　of　these　events　and　other　business。
But　when　they　were　out　of　the　room　he　said　that　he　must　have　fresh　air
or　he　would　faint；　which　was　not　strange；　seeing　that　heat　prevailed
on　this　night　in　Venice　of　an　intensity　unknown　there　at　this　season
of　the　year。

〃Whither　shall　we　go？〃　asked　Dick；　mopping　his　brow。　〃Guards　stand　at
the　door　and；　I　doubt；　will　not　let　us　pass。〃

〃I　wish　to　see　the　place　where　we　are　to　fight　to…morrow；〃　answered
Hugh；　〃so　as　to　form　my　judgment　of　it；　if　only　we　may　come　there。〃

At　this　moment　an　English　lad　of　Sir　Geoffrey's　household　chanced　to
pass　by；　having　come　to　ask　as　to　the　feeding　of　the　horse　which　Hugh
should　ride。　Dick　caught　him　by　the　arm　and　asked　whether　he　could　get
them　out　of　the　house　secretly；　so　that　the　Guards　would　not　see　them；
and　conduct　them　to　the　spot　called　the　Place　of　Arms；　where　they
understood　they　were　to　fight。

The　lad；　whose　name　was　David　Day；　replied　somewhat　doubtfully　that　he
could　do　so　by　a　back　door　near　the　kitchen；　and　guide　them　also；　but
that　they　must　protect　him　from　the　anger　of　Sir　Geoffrey。　This　Hugh
promised　to　do。　So　presently　they　started；　carrying　their　weapons；　but
wearing　no　mail　because　of　the　intense　heat；　although　Dick　reminded
his　master　how　they　had　been　told　that　they　should　not　venture　forth
without　body　armour。

〃I　have　a　sword　and　you　have　bow　and　axe；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃so　we'll
risk　it。　In　leather…lined　mail　we　should　surely　melt。〃

So　they　put　on　some　light　cloaks　made　of　black　silk；　with　hoods　to
them；　such　as　the　Venetians　wore　at　their　masques；　for　David　knew
where　these　were　to　be　found。　Slipping　out　quite　unobserved　by　the
kitchen　door　into　a　little　courtyard；　they　passed　into　an　unlighted
back　street　through　a　postern　gate　whereof　the　lad　had　the　key。　At　the
end　of　the　street　they　came　to　a　canal；　where　David；　who　talked
Italian　perfectly；　hailed　a　boat；　into　which　they　entered　without
exciting　remark。　For　this　sharp　youth　pointed　to　their　cloaks　and　told
the　boatman　that　they　were　gallants　engaged　upon　some　amorous
adventure。

On　they　rowed　down　the　silent　lanes　of　water；　through　the　slumbrous
city　of　palaces；　turning　here；　turning　there；　till　soon　they　lost　all
knowledge　of　the　direction　in　which　they　headed。　At　length　David
whispered　to　them　that　they　drew　near　the　place　where　they　must　land。
Everybody　seemed　to　speak　in　a　whisper　that　heavy　night；　even　the
folk；　generally　so　light　of　heart　and　quick　of　tongue；　who　sat　on　the
steps　or　beneath　the　porticoes　of　their　houses　gasping　for　air；　and
the　passers…by　on　the　/rivas/　or　footwalks　that　bordered　the　canals。
At　a　sign　from　David　the　boat　turned　inward　and　grated　against　the
steps　of　a　marble　quay。　He　paid　the　boatman；　who　seemed　to　have　no
energy　left　to　dispute　the　fare；　telling　him　in　the　same　low　voice
that　if　he　cared　to　wait　he　might　perhaps　row　them　back　within　an　hour
or　so。　Then　they　climbed　steps　and　entered　a　narrow　street　where　there
was　no　canal；　on　either　side　of　which　stood　tall　houses　or　dark
frowning　gateways。

Just　as　they　stepped　into　the　shadow　of　this　street　they　heard　the
prow　of　another　boat　grate　against　the　marble　steps　behind　them　and
caught　the　faint　sound　of　talk；　apparently　between　their　rower　and
others　in　the　second　boat。

〃Forward；　Sir　Hugh；〃　said　Day　a　little　nervously。　〃This　part　of　Venice
has　no　good　name；　for　many　wicked　deeds　are　done　here；　but　soon　we
shall　be　through　it。〃

So　they　stepped　out　briskly；　and　when　they　were　about　half…way　down
the　street　heard　other　steps　behind　them。　They　turned　and　looked　back
through　the　gloom；　whereon　the　sound　of　the　following　steps　died　away。
They　pushed　on　again；　and　so；　unless　the　echo　deceived　them；　did　those
quick；　stealthy　steps。　Then；　as　though　by　common　consent；　though　no
one　gave　the　word；　they　broke　into　a　run　and　gained　the　end　of　the
street；　which　they　now　saw　led　into　a　large　open　space　lit　by　the
light　of　the　great　moon；　that　broke　suddenly　through　the　veil　of　cloud