red eve-第39章

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serves　and　in　His　hand　are　mercies。　Be　silent；　Dick；　for　this　wretch
makes　confession　and　his　time　is　short。　Spare　the　tool　and　save　your
wrath　for　him　who　wielded　it。　Go　now　and　fetch　David　Day　that　he　may
witness　also。〃

So　Dick　went；　and　Nicholas　continued　his　tale；　throwing　light　into
many　a　dark　place；　though　there　was　little　more　that　Hugh　thought
worthy　of　record。

Presently　David　came　and　started　back　in　horror　at　the　sight　of　that
yellow　tortured　face　set　upon　a　living　skeleton。　Then　the　writing　was
read　and　Nicholas；　held　up　by　Dick；　set　his　signature　with　a　trembling
hand　to　this　his　confession　of　the　truth。　This　done　they　signed　as
witnesses；　all　three　of　them。

Now　Hugh；　whose　pity　was　stirred；　wished　to　move　Nicholas　and　lay　him
on　a　bed　in　some　chamber；　and　if　they　could；　find　someone　to　watch　him
till　the　end。　But　the　priest　refused　this　charity。

〃Let　me　die　before　the　altar；〃　he　said；　〃where　I　may　set　my　eyes　upon
Him　whom　I　have　betrayed　afresh；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　carved　ivory
crucifix　which　hung　above　it。　〃Oh！　be　warned；　be　warned；　my　brethren；〃
he　went　on　in　a　wailing　voice。　〃You　are　all　of　you　still　young；　you
may　be　led　astray　as　I　was　by　the　desire　for　power；　by　the　hope　of
wealth。　You　may　sell　yourselves　to　the　wicked　as　I　did；　I　who　once　was
good　and　strove　toward　the　right。　If　Satan　tempts　you　thus；　then
remember　Nicholas　the　priest；　and　his　dreadful　death；　and　see　how　he
pays　his　servants。　The　plague　has　taken　others；　yet　they　have　died　at
peace；　but　I；　I　die　in　hell　before　I　see　its　fires。〃

〃Not　so；〃　said　Hugh；　〃you　have　repented；　and　I；　against　whom　you　have
sinned　perhaps　more　than　all；　forgive　you；　as　I　am　sure　my　lady　would；
could　she　know。〃

〃Then　it　is　more　than　I　do；〃　muttered　Grey　Dick　to　himself。　〃Why
should　I　forgive　him　because　he　rots　alive；　as　many　a　better　man　has
done；　and　goes　to　reap　what　he　has　sown；　who　if　he　had　won　his　way
would　have　sent　us　before　him　at　the　dagger's　point？　Yet　who　knows？
Each　of　us　sins　in　his　own　fashion；　and　perchance　sin　is　born　of　the
blood　and　not　of　the　will。　If　ever　I　meet　Murgh　again　I'll　ask　him。
But　perhaps　he　will　not　answer。〃

Thus　reflected　Dick；　half　to　David；　who　feared　and　did　not　understand
him；　and　half　to　himself。　Ere　ever　he　had　finished　with　his　thoughts；
which　were　not　such　as　Sir　Andrew　would　have　approved；　Father　Nicholas
began　to　die。

It　was　not　a　pleasant　sight　this　death　of　his；　though　of　its　physical
part　nothing　shall　be　written。　Let　that　be　buried　with　other　records
of　the　great　plague。　Only　in　this　case　his　mind　triumphed　for　a　while
over　the　dissolution　of　his　body。　When　there　was　little　left　of　him
save　bone　and　sinew；　still　he　found　strength　to　cry　out　to　God　for
mercy。　Yes；　and　to　raise　himself　and　cast　what　had　been　arms　about　the
ivory　rood　and　kiss　its　feet　with　what　had　been　lips；　and　in　his　last
death　struggle　to　drag　it　down　and　pant　out　his　ultimate　breath
beneath　its　weight。

So　there　they　left　him；　a　horrible；　huddled　heap　upon　which　gleamed
the　ivory　crucifix；　and　went　their　way；　gasping；　into　the　air。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XVI

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AT　AVIGNON

Hard　upon　two　months　had　gone　by　when　at　length　these　three；　Hugh；
Grey　Dick；　and　David　Day；　set　eyes　upon　the　towers　of　stately　Avignon
standing　red　against　the　sunset　and　encircled　by　the　blue　waters　of
the　Rhone。　Terrible　beyond　imagination　had　been　the　journey　of　these
men；　who　followed　in　the　footsteps　of　Murgh。　They　saw　him　not；　it　is
true；　but　always　they　saw　his　handiwork。　Death；　death；　everywhere
death；　nothing　but　death！

One　night　they　supped　at　an　inn　with　the　host；　his　family　and
servants；　twelve　folk　in　all；　in　seeming　health。　When　they　rose　in　the
morning　one　old　woman　and　a　little　child　alone　remained；　the　rest　were
dead　or　dying。　One　day　they　were　surprised　and　taken　by　robbers；
desperate　outcasts　of　the　mountains；　who　gave　them　twenty…four　hours
to　〃make　their　peace　with　heaven〃ere　they　hanged　them　because　they
had　slain　so　many　of　the　band　before　they　were　overpowered。

But　when　those　twenty…four　hours　of　grace　had　elapsed；　it　would　have
been　easy　for　them　to　hang　all　who　remained　of　those　robbers
themselves。　So　they　took　the　best　of　their　horses　and　their　ill…gotten
gold　and　rode　on　again；　leaving　the　murderers　murdered　by　a　stronger
power　than　man。

They　went　through　desolate　villages；　where　the　crops　rotted　in　the
fields；　they　went　through　stricken　towns　whereof　the　moan　and　the
stench　rose　in　a　foul　incense　to　heaven；　they　crossed　rivers　where　the
very　fish　had　died　by　thousands；　poisoned　of　the　dead　that　rolled
seaward　in　their　waters。　The　pleasant　land　had　become　a　hell；　and
untouched；　unharmed；　they　plodded　onward　through　those　deeps　of　hell。
But　a　night　or　two　before　they　had　slept　in　a　city　whereof　the
population；　or　those　who　remained　alive　of　them；　seemed　to　have　gone
mad。　In　one　place　they　danced　and　sang　and　made　love　in　an　open
square。　In　another　bands　of　naked　creatures　marched　the　streets
singing　hymns　and　flogging　themselves　till　the　blood　ran　down　to　their
heels；　while　the　passers…by　prostrated　themselves　before　them。　These
were　the　forerunners　of　the　〃Mad　Dancers〃　of　the　following　year。

In　a　field　outside　of　this　city　they　came　upon　even　a　more　dreadful
sight。　Here　forty　or　fifty　frenzied　people；　most　of　them　drunk；　were
engaged　in　burning　a　poor　Jew；　his　wife　and　two　children　upon　a　great
fire　made　of　the　staves　of　wine…casks；　which　they　had　plundered　from
some　neighbouring　cellars。　When　Hugh　and　his　companions　came　upon　the
scene　the　Jew　had　already　burned　and　this　crowd　of　devils　were
preparing　to　cast　his　wife　and　children　into　the　flames；　which　they
had　been　forced　to　see　devour　their　husband　and　father。　Indeed；　with
yells　of　brutal　laughter；　they　were　thrusting　the　children　into　two
great　casks　ere　they　rolled　them　into　the　heart　of　the　fire；　while　the
wretched　mother　stood　by　and　shrieked。

〃What　do　you；　sirs？〃　asked　Hugh；　riding　up　to　them。

〃We　burn　wizards　and　their　spawn；　Sir　Knight；〃　answered　the
ringleader。　〃Know　that　these　accursed　Jews　have　poisoned　the　wells　of
our　townwe　have　witnesses　who　saw　them　do　itand　thus　brought　the
plague　upon　us。　Moreover；　she；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　woman〃was　seen
talking　not　fourteen　days　ago　to　the　devil　in　a　yellow　cap；　who
appears　everywhere　before　the　Death　begins。　Now；　roll　them　in；　roll
them　in！〃

Hugh　drew　his　sword；　for　this　sight　was　more　than　his　English　flesh
and　blood　could　bear。　Dick　also　unsheathed　the　black　bow；　while　young
David　produced　a　great　knife　which　he　carried。

〃Free　those　children！〃　said　Hugh　to　the　man　with　whom　he　had　spoken；　a
fat　fellow；　with　rolling；　bloodshot　eyes。

〃Get　you　to　hell；　stranger；〃　he　answered；　〃or　we'll　throw　you　on　the
fire　also　as　a　Jew　in　knight's　dress。〃

〃Free　those　children！〃　said　Hugh　again　in　a　terrible　voice；　〃or　I　send
you　before　them。　Be　warned！　I　speak　truth。〃

〃Be　you　warned；　stranger；　for　I　speak　truth　also；〃　replied　the　man；
mimicking　him。　〃Now　friends；〃　he　added；　〃tuck　up　the　devil's　brats　in
their　warm　bed。〃

They　were　his　last　words；　for　Hugh　thrust　with　his　sword　and　down　he
went。

Now　a　furious　clamour　arose。　The　mob　snatched　up　burning　staves；
bludgeons；　knives　or　whatever　they　had　at　hand；　and　prepared　to　kill
the　three。　Without　waiting　for　orders；　Dick　began　to　shoot。　David；　a
bold　young　man；　rushed　at　one　of　the　most　violent　and　stabbed　him；　and
Hugh；　who　had　leapt　from　his　horse；　set　himself　back　to　back　with　the
other　two。　Thrice　Dick　shot；　and　at　the　third　deadly　arrow　these
drunken　fellows　grew　sober　enough　to　understand　that　they　wished　no
more　of　them。

Suddenly；　acting　on　a　common　impulse；　they　fled　away；　every　one；　only
leaving　behind　them　those　who　had　fallen　beneath　the　arrows　and　the
sword。　But　some　who　were　so　full　of　wine　that　they　could　not　run；
tumbled　headlong　and　lay　there　helpless。

〃Woman；〃　said　Hugh　when　they　had　departed；　〃your　husband　is　lost；　but
you　and　your　children　are　saved。　Now　go　your　ways　and　thank　whatever
God　you　worship　for　His　small　mercies。〃

〃Alas！　Sir　Knight；〃　the　poor　creature；　a　still　young　and　not
unhandsome　Jewess；　wailed　in　answer；　〃whither　shall　I　go？　If　I　return
to　that　town　those　Christian　men　will　surely　murder　me　and　my　children
as　they　have　already　murdered　my　husband。　Kill　us　now　by　the　sword　or
the　bowit　will　be　a　kindnessbut　leave　us　not　here　to　be　tortured
by　the　Christian　men　according　to　their　fashion　with　us　poor　Jews。〃

〃Are　you　willing　to　go　to　Avignon？〃　asked　Hugh；　after　thinking　awhile。

〃Ay；　Sir　Knight；　or　anywhere　away　from　these　Christians。　Indeed；　at
Avignon　I　have　a　brother　who　perchance　will　protect　us。〃

〃Then　mount　my　horse；〃　said　Hugh。　〃Dick　and　David；　draw　those　two
youngsters　from　the　tubs　and　set　them　on　your　beasts；　we　can　walk。〃

So　the　children；　two　comely　little　girls　of　eight　and　six　years　of
age；　or　thereabout；　were　dragged　out　of　their　dreadful　prisons　and
lifted　to　the　saddle。　The　wretched　widow；　running　to　the　bonfire；
snatched　from　it　her　husband's　burnt…off　hand　and　hid　it　in　the　bosom
of　her　filthy　robe。　Then　she　took　some　of　the　white　ashes　and　threw
them　toward　that　city；　muttering　curses　as　she　did　so。

〃What　do　you？〃　asked　Hugh　curiously。

〃I　pray；　sir；　to　Jehovah；　the　God　of　the　Jews；　that　for　every　grain　of
these　ashes　He　may　take　a　life　in　payment　for　that　of　my　murdered
husband；　and　I　think　that　He　will　listen。〃

〃Like　enough；〃　answered　Hugh；　crossing　himself；　〃but；　woman；　can　you
wonder　that　we　Christians　hold　you　sorcerers　when　we　hear　such　prayers
from　your　lips？〃

She　turned　with　a　tragic　motion；　and；　pointing　to　the　bones　of　her
husband　smouldering　in　the　fire；　answered：

〃And　can　you　wonder；　sir；　that　we　wretched　creatures　utter　such
prayers　when　you；　our　masters；　do　such　deeds　as　this？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃I　cannot。　Let　us　be　going　from　this　shambles。〃

So　they　went；　a　melancholy　procession　if　ever　there　one　was　seen　upon
this　earth。　As　the　three　Englishmen　marched　behind　the　horses　with
their　weeping　burdens　Grey　Dick　reflected　aloud　after　his　fashion。

〃Jew　and　Christian！〃　he　said。　〃The　Jews　killed　one　Man　who　chanced　to
be　a　God；　though　they　knew　it　not；　and　ever　since　the　Christians　have
killed　thousands　of　the　Jews。　Now；　which　is　the　most　wicked；　those
Jews　who　killed　the　Man　Who　was　a　God；　because　He　said　He　was　a　God；
or　those　Christians　who　throw　a　man　into　a　fire　to　burn　before　his
wife's　and　children's　eyes？　A　man　who　never　said　that　he　was　a　god；
but　who；　they　said；　put　poison　into　their　wells；　which　he　did　not　do；
but　which　they　believed　he　did　because　he　was　one　of　the　race　that
thirteen　hundred　years　ago　killed　their　God？　Ah；　well！　Jew　and
Christian；　I　think　the　same　devil　dwells　in　them　all；　but　Murgh　alone
knows　the　truth　of　the　matter。　If　ever　we　meet　again；　I'll　ask　him　of
it。　Meanwhile；　we　go　to　Avignon　in　strange　company；　whereof　all　the
holy　priests　yonder；　if　any　of　them　still　live；　to　say　nothing　of　the
people；　may　demand　an　account　of　us。〃

So　spoke　Dick　as　one　who　seeks　an　answer；　but　neither　of　his
companions　gave　him　any。

On　they　went　through　the