the virgin of the sun-第18章
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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 there any who would stand surety for my lord？〃
〃Yes； one of great estate； Sir Robert Aleys； who has wide lands in
Sussex。〃
〃I have heard the name； and if my lord will bid his lawyers put the
matter in writing； I will cause the lands to be valued and give an
answer as quickly as may be。〃
〃For a young man you are careful； merchant。〃
〃Alas！ such as I need to be who must guard our small earnings in these
troublous times of war and tumult。 Such a sum as you speak of would
take all that John Grimmer and I have laid by after years of toil。〃
Again he looked at the furnishings of the room and shrugged his
shoulders； then said：
〃Good； it shall be done for the need is urgent。 To whom is the letter
to be sent？〃
〃To John Grimmer； at the Boat House； Cheapside。〃
〃But you told me that John Grimmer was dead。〃
〃And so he is； my lord； but his name remains。〃
Then we returned to the sop and as we went I said；
〃If your lordship's lady should set her heart upon the ruby the cost
of it can stand
