the virgin of the sun-第13章

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called　/Quichua/；　a　soft　and　beautiful　tongue；　though　he　said　that
there　were　also　many　others　in　his　country；　including　one　that　was
secret　to　the　King　and　his　family；　which　he　was　not　allowed　to　reveal
although　he　knew　it。　In　time　I　mastered　enough　of　this　Quichua　to　be
able　to　talk　to　Kari　in　brief　sentences　of　it　when　I　did　not　wish
others　to　understand　what　I　said。

To　tell　the　truth；　while　I　studied　thus　and　listened　to　his　marvellous
tales；　a　great　desire　arose　in　me　to　see　this　land　of　his　and　to　open
up　a　trade　with　it；　since　there　he　declared　gold　was　as　plentiful　as
was　iron　with　us。　I　thought　even　of　making　a　voyage　of　discovery　to
the　west；　but　when　I　spoke　of　it　to　certain　sea…captains；　even　the
most　venturesome　mocked　at　me　and　said　that　they　would　wait　for　that
journey　till　they　〃went　west〃　themselves；　by　which　in　their　sea
parlance　that　they　had　learned　in　the　Mediterranean；　they　meant　until
they　died。＇*＇　When　I　told　Kari　this　he　smiled　in　his　mysterious　way
and　answered　that　all　the　same；　I　and　he　should　make　that　journey
together　and　this　before　we　died；　a　thing　that　came　about；　indeed；
though；　not　by　my　own　will　or　his。

＇*＇　Of　late　there　has　been　much　dispute　as　to　the　origin　of　the　phrase
　　　　〃to　go　west；〃　or　in　other　words；　to　die。　Surely　it　arises　from　the
　　　　custom　of　the　Ancient　Egyptians　who；　after　death；　were　ferried
　　　　across　the　Nile　and　entombed　upon　the　western　shore。Ed。

For　the　rest　when　Kari　saw　my　workmen　fashioning　gold　and　setting
jewels　in　it　for　sale　to　the　nobles　and　ladies　of　the　Court；　he　was
much　interested　and　asked　if　he　might　be　allowed　to　follow　this　craft；
of　which　he　said　he　understood　something；　and　thus　earn　the　bread　he
ate。　I　answered；　yes；　for　I　knew　that　it　irked　his　proud　nature　to　be
dependent　on　me；　and　gave　him　gold　and　silver　with　a　little　room
having　a　furnace　in　it　where　he　could　labour。　The　first　thing　he　made
was　an　object　about　two　inches　across；　round　and　with　a　groove　at　the
back　of　it；　on　the　front　of　which　he　fashioned　an　image　of　the　sun
having　a　human　face　and　rays　of　light　projecting　all　about。　I　asked
him　what　was　its　purpose；　whereon　he　took　the　piece　and　thrust　it　into
the　lobe　of　his　ear　where　the　gristle　had　been　stretched　in　the
fashion　that　I　have　described；　which　it　fitted　exactly。　Then　he　told
me　that　in　his　country　all　the　nobles　wore　such　ornaments　and　that
those　who　did　so　were　called　〃ear…men〃　to　distinguish　them　from　the
common　people。　Also　he　told　me　many　other　things　too　long　to　set　out；
which　made　me　desire　more　than　ever　to　see　this　empire　with　my　eyes；
for　an　empire　and　no　less　he　declared　it　to　be。

Afterwards　Kari　made　many　such　ornaments　which　I　sold　for　brooches
with　a　pin　set　at　the　back　of　them。　Also　he　shaped　other　things；　for
his　skill　as　a　goldsmith　was　wonderful；　such　as　cups　and　platters　of
strange　design　and　rich　ornamentation　which　commanded　a　great　price。
But　on　every　one　of　them；　in　the　centre　or　some　other　part　of　the
embossment；　appeared　this　image　of　the　sun。　I　asked　him　why。　He
answered　because　the　sun　was　his　god　and　his　people　were　Sun…
worshippers。　I　reminded　him　that　he　had　said　that　a　certain　Pachacamac
whose　image　he　wore　about　his　neck　was　his　god。　To　this　he　replied：

〃Yes；　Pachacamac　is　the　god　above　gods；　the　Creator；　the　Spirit　of　the
World；　but　the　Sun　is　his　visible　house　and　raiment　that　all　may　see
and　worship；〃　a　saying　that　I　thought　had　truth　in　it；　seeing　that　all
Nature　is　the　raiment　of　God。

I　tried　to　instruct　him　in　our　faith；　but　although　he　listened
patiently　and　I　think　understood；　he　would　not　become　a　Christian；
making　it　very　plain　to　me　that　he　thought　that　a　man　should　live　and
die　in　the　religion　in　which　he　was　born　and　that　from　what　he　saw　in
London　he　did　not　hold　that　Christians　were　any　better　than　those　who
worshipped　the　sun　and　the　great　spirit；　Pachacamac。　So　I　abandoned
this　attempt；　although　there　was　danger　to　him　while　he　remained　a
heathen。　Indeed　twice　or　thrice　the　priests　made　inquiry　concerning
his　faith；　being　curious　as　to　all　that　had　to　do　with　him。　However；　I
silenced　them　by　pretending　that　I　was　instructing　him　as　well　as　I
was　able　and　that　as　yet　he　did　not　know　enough　English　to　hearken　to
their　holy　expositions。　Also　when　they　became　persistent　I　made　gifts
to　the　monasteries　to　which　they　belonged；　or　if　they　were　parish
priests；　then　to　their　cur閟　or　churches。

Still　I　was　troubled　about　this　matter；　for　some　of　these　priests　were
very　fierce　and　intolerant；　and　I　was　sure　that　in　time　they　would
push　the　business　further。

One　more　thing　I　noticed　about　Kari；　namely；　that　he　shrank　from　women
and　indeed　seemed　to　hate　them。　The　maids　who　had　remained　with　me
since　my　uncle's　death　noticed　this；　by　nature　as　it　were；　and　in
revenge　would　not　serve　him。　The　end　of　it　was　that；　fearing　lest　they
should　do　him　some　evil　turn　with　the　priests　or　otherwise；　I　sent
them　away　and　hired　men　to　take　their　place。　This　distaste　of　Kari　for
women　I　set　down　to　all　that　he　had　suffered　at　the　hands　of　his　false
and　beautiful　wife　not　wrongly　as　I　think。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　V

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　COMING　OF　BLANCHE

One　day；　it　was　the　last　of　the　year；　the　anniversary　of　the　death　of
my　uncle　whose　goodness　and　wisdom　I　pondered　on　more　and　more　as　time
went　by；　having　a　little　time　to　spare　from　larger　affairs；　I　chanced
to　be　in　the　shop　in　the　front　of　the　house；　which；　as　John　Grimmer
had　said；　he　kept　as　a　trap　to　〃snare　the　ladybirds；〃　and　I　continued；
because　I　knew　that　he　would　not　wish　that　anything　should　be　changed。
Here　I　was　pleasing　myself　by　looking　over　such　pieces　as　we　had　to
sell　which　the　head　craftsman　was　showing　to　me；　since　myself　I　knew
little　of　them；　except　as　a　matter　of　account。

Whilst　I　was　thus　engaged　there　entered　the　shop　a　very　fine　lady
accompanied　by　a　still　finer　lordling　arrayed　so　similarly　that；　at
first　sight；　in　their　hooded　ermine　cloaks　it　was　difficult　to　know
which　was　man　and　which　was　woman。　When　they　threw　these　aside；
however；　for　the　shop　was　warm　after　the　open　air；　I　knew　more　than
that；　since　with　a　sudden　stoppage　of　the　heart　I　saw　before　me　none
other　than　the　lady　Blanche　Aleys　and　her　relative；　the　lord　Deleroy。

She；　who　in　the　old　days　of　the　Hastings　burnings　had　been　but　a　lily
bud；　was　now　an　open　flower　and　beautiful　exceedingly；　indeed　in　her
own　fashion　the　most　beautiful　woman　that　ever　I　beheld。　Tall　she　was
and　stately　as　a　lily　bloom；　white　as　a　lily　also；　save　for　those
wondrous　blue　eyes　over　which　curled　the　dark　lashes。　In　shape；　too；
she　was　perfect；　full…breasted；　yet　not　too　full；　small…waisted；　and
with　delicate　limbs；　a　very　Venus；　such　an　one　as　I　had　seen　in
ancient　marble　brought　in　a　ship　from　Italy　and　given；　as　I　believe；
to　the　King；　who　loved　such　things；　to　be　set　up　in　his　palace。

My　lord　also　was　yet　handsomer　than　he　had　been；　more　set　and　manly；
though　still　he　affected　his　coxcomb　party…coloured　dress　with　the
turned…up　shoes　of　which　the　points　were　fastened　by　little　golden
chains　beneath　the　knee。　Still　he　was　a　fine　man　with　his　roving　black
eyes；　his　loose　mouth　and　little　pointed　beard　from　which；　as　from　his
hair；　came　an　odour　of　scents。　Seeing　me　in　my　merchant's　gown；　for　I
remained　mindful　of　my　uncle's　advice　as　regards　attire；　he　spoke　to
me　as　great　men　do　to　shop…keepers。

〃Well　met；　Goldsmith；〃　he　said　in　his　round；　well…trained　voice；　〃I
would　make　a　new…year　gift　to　the　lady　here；　and　I　am　told　that　you
have　plate…wares　of　the　best；　gold　cups　and　jewels　of　rich　and　rare
design；　stamped　all　of　them　with　the　image　of　the　sun　which　one　would
wish　to　remember　on　such　a　day　as　this。　But　hearken；　let　John　Grimmer
himself　come　to　serve　me　for　I　would　treat　with　no　underlings；　or　take
me　to　him　where　he　is。〃

Now　I　bowed　before　him；　rubbing　my　hands；　and　answered；　for　so　the
humour　led　me：　〃Then　I　fear　that　I　must　take　my　lord　farther　than　my
lord　would　wish　to　travel　just　at　present；　though　who　knows？
Perchance；　like　the　rest　of　us；　he　may　take　that　journey　sooner　than
he　thinks。〃

Now　at　the　sound　of　my　voice　I　saw　the　lady　Blanche　stare　at　me；
trying　to　catch　sight　of　my　face　beneath　the　hood　which　I　wore　on　this
cold　day；　while　Deleroy　started　and　said　briefly：

〃Your　meaning？〃

〃It　is　plain；　my　lord。　John　Grimmer　is　dead　and　I　know　not　where　he
dwells　at　present　since　he　took　that　secret　with　him。　But　I；　who
unworthily　carry　on　his　trade；　am　at　your　lordship's　service。〃

Then　I　turned　and　bade　the　shopman　command　Kari　to　come　hither　and
bring　with　him　the　choicest　of　our　cups　and　jewels。

He　went　and　I　busied　myself　in　setting　stools　for　these　noble
customers　to　rest　on　before　the　fire。　As　I　did　so　by　chance　my　hand
touched　that　of　the　lady　Blanche；　whereat　once　more　she　strove　to　peer
beneath　my　hood。　It　was　as　though　the　nature　in　her　knew　that　touch
again；　as　by　some　instinct　every　woman　does；　if　once　the　toucher's
lips　have　been　near　her　own；　though　it　be　long　ago。　But　I　only　turned
my　head　away　and　drew　that　hood　the　closer。

Now　Kari　came　and　with　him　the　shopman；　bearing　the　precious　wares。
Kari　wore　a　wool…lined　robe；　very　plain；　which　yet　became　him　so　well
that　with　his　fine…cut　face　and　flashing　eyes　he　looked　like　an
Eastern　prince　disguised。　At　him　this　fine　pair　stared；　for　never　had
they　seen　such　a　man；　but　taking　no　note；　with　many　bows　he　showed　the
jewels　one　by　one。　Among　these　was　a　gem　of　great　value；　a　large；
heart…shaped　ruby　that　Kari　had　set　in　a　surround　of　twisted　golden
serpents　with　heads　raised　to　strike　and　little　eyes　of　diamonds。　Upon
this　brooch　the　lady　Blanche　fixed　her　gaze　and　discarding　all　others；
began　to　play　with　it；　till　at　length　the　lord　Deleroy　asked　the
price。　I　consulted　with　Kari；　explaining　that　myself　I　did　not　handle
this　branch　of　my　business；　then　named　it　carelessly；　it　was　a　great
sum。

〃God's　truth！　Blanche；〃　said　Deleroy；　〃this　merchant　thinks　I　am　made
of　gold。　You　must　choose　a　cheaper　ornament　for　your　new　year's　gift；
or　he　will　have　to　wait　for　payment。〃

〃Which　mayhap　I　should　be　willing　to　do　from　one　of　your　quality；　my
lord；〃　I　interrupted；　bowing。

He　looked　at　me　and　said：

〃Can　I　have　a　word　apart　with　you；　merchant？〃

Again　I　bowed　and　led　him　to　the　eating…room　where　he　gazed　about　him；
amazed　at　the　richness　of　the　furnishings。　He　sat　him　down　upon　a
carven　chair　while　I　stood　before　him　humbly　and　waited。

〃I　am　told；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃that　John　Grimmer　did　other　business
besides　that　of　selling　jewels。〃

〃Yes；　my　lord；　some　foreign　trade。〃

〃And　some　home　trade　also。　I　mean　that　he　lent　money。〃

〃At　times；　my　lord；　and　on　good　security；　if　he　chanced　to　have　any　at
command；　and　at　a　certain　interest。　Perhaps　my　lord　will　come　to　his
point。〃

〃It　is　short　and　clear。　Those　of　us　who　are　at　Court　always　want　money
where　it　is　needful　if　we　would　have　advancement　and　earn　the　royal
favour　of　one　who　does　not　pay；　at　least　in　gold。〃

〃Be　pleased　to　state　the　amount　and　the　security　offered；　my　lord。〃

He　did　so。　The　sum　was　high　and　the　security　was　bad。

〃Are　th