the virgin of the sun-第23章

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laden　for　the　Mediterranean；　was　of　great　value；　so　great　indeed　that
its　loss　would　have　been　very　grievous　to　me。　Therefore；　it　was　plain
that　I　must　see　to　the　matter　without　delay；　since　from　my　servant's
account　there　was　no　hope　that　these　rebellious　sailors　would　listen
to　any　lesser　man　than　myself。　So；　if　I　would　save　the　ship　and　her
cargo；　I　must　ride　for　the　docks　at　once。

Going　back　to　the　eating…chamber；　in　a　few　words　I　told　my　wife　and
the　guests　how　the　matter　stood；　praying　the　oldest　man　among　the
latter　to　take　my　place　by　the　bride；　which　he　did　unwillingly；
muttering　that　this　was　an　unlucky　marriage　feast。

Then　it　was　that　Blanche　rose；　beseeching　me　earnestly　and　almost　with
tears　that　I　would　take　her　with　me　to　the　docks。　I　laughed　at　her；　as
did　the　company；　but　still　she　besought　with　much　persistence；　till　I
began　to　believe　that　she　must　be　afraid　of　something；　though　the
others　cried　that　it　was　but　love　and　fear　lest　I　should　come　to　harm。

In　the　end　I　made　her　drink　a　cup　of　wine　with　me；　but　her　hand　shook
so　much　that　she　spilled　the　cup　and　the　rich　red　wine　ran　down　her
breast；　staining　the　whiteness　of　her　robe；　whereat　some　women　among
the　company　murmured；　thinking　it　a　bad　omen。　At　length　with　a　kiss　I
tore　myself　away；　for　I　could　bide　no　longer　and　the　horses　were
waiting　presently。　So　I　was　riding　for　the　docks　as　fast　as　the　storm
would　suffer；　with　tiles　from　the　roofs；　and　when　we　were　clear　of
these　the　torn…off　limbs　of　trees　hurtling　round　me。　Kari；　I　should
say；　would　have　accompanied　me；　but　I　took　a　serving…man；　bidding　Kari
bide　where　he　was　in　the　house　in　case　he　might　be　of　service。

At　last　we　came　safely　to　the　docks　where　I　found　all　as　my　cargo…
master　had　described。　The　ship　/Blanche/　was　in　great　peril　and
dragging　every　minute　towards　a　pierhead　which；　if　she　struck；　would
stave　her　in　and　make　an　end　of　her。　The　men；　too；　were　still　feasting
in　the　inn　with　their　wharfside　trollops；　and　some　of　them　half　drunk。
I　spoke　to　them；　showing　them　their　shame；　and　saying　that　if　they
would　not　come；　I　and　my　man　would　take　a　boat　and　get　aboard　alone
and　this　upon　my　wedding　day。　Then　they　hung　their　heads　and　came。

We　won　to　the　ship　safely　though　with　much　toil　and　danger；　and　there
found　the　master　almost　crazed　with　fear　and　doubt　of　the　issue；　and
the　man　with　him　injured　by　a　falling　block。　Indeed；　this　poor　captain
clung　to　the　rail；　watching　the　cable　as　it　dragged　the　anchor　and
fearing　every　moment　lest　it　should　part。

The　rest　is　soon　told。　We　got　out　two　more　anchors　and　did　other
things　such　as　sailors　know；　to　help　in　such　a　case。　When　all　was　as
safe　as　it　could　be　made；　I　and　my　man　and　four　sailors　started　for
the　quay；　telling　the　master　that　I　would　return　upon　the　morrow。　The
wind　and　current　aiding　us；　we　landed　safe　and　sound　and　at　once　I
rode　back　to　Cheapside。

Now；　though　it　is　short　to　tell；　all　this　had　taken　a　long　while；　also
the　way　was　far　to　ride　in　such　a　storm。　Thus　it　came　about　that　it
was　nigh　to　ten　o'clock　at　night　when；　thanking　God；　I　dismounted　at
the　gate　of　my　house　and　bade　the　servant　take　the　horses　to　the
stable。　As　I　drew　near　the　door；　it　opened；　which　astonished　me　and；
as　the　light　within　showed；　there　stood　Kari。　What　astonished　me　still
more；　he　had　the　great　sword；　Wave…Flame；　in　his　hand；　though　not
drawn；　which　sword　he　must　have　fetched　from　where　it　was　kept　with
the　French　knight's　armour　and　the　shield　that　bore　three　arrows　as　a
cognizance。

Laying　his　finger　on　his　lips　he　shut　the　door　softly；　then　said　in　a
low　voice：

〃Master；　there　is　a　man　up　yonder　with　the　lady。〃

〃What　man？〃　I　asked。

〃That　same　lord；　Master；　who　came　here　with　her　once　before　to　buy
jewels　and　borrow　gold。　Hearken。　The　feast　being　finished　the　guests
went　away　at　fall　of　night；　but　the　wife…lady　withdrew　herself　into
the　chamber　that　is　called　sun…room　（the　solar）；　that　up　the　stairs；
which　looks　out　on　the　street。　About　one　hour　gone　there　came　a　knock
at　the　door。　I　who　was　watching；　opened；　thinking　it　was　you　returned；
and　there　stood　that　lord。　He　spoke　to　me；　saying：

〃'Moor…man；　I　know　that　your　master　is　from　home；　but　that　the　lady　is
here。　I　would　speak　with　her。'

〃Now　I　would　have　turned　him　away；　but　at　that　moment　the　lady
herself；　who　it　seemed　was　watching；　came　down　the　stairs；　looking
very　white；　and　said：

〃'Kari；　let　the　lord　come　in。　I　have　matters　of　your　master's　business
about　which　I　must　talk　with　him。'　So；　Master；　knowing　that　you　had
lent　money　to　this　lord；　I　obeyed；　though　I　liked　it　not；　and　having
fetched　the　sword　which　I　thought　perchance　might　be　needed；　I
waited。〃

This　was　the　substance　of　what　he　said；　though　his　talk　was　more
broken　since　he　never　learned　to　speak　English　well　and　helped　it　out
with　words　of　his　own　tongue；　of　which；　as　I　have　told；　he　had　taught
me　something。

〃I　do　not　understand；〃　I　exclaimed；　when　he　had　finished。　〃Doubtless
it　is　little　or　nothing。　Yet　give　me　the　sword；　for　who　knows？　and
come　with　me。〃

Kari　obeyed；　and　as　I　went　up　the　stairs　I　buckled　Wave…Flame　about
me。　Also　Kari　brought　two　candles　of　Italian　wax　lighted　upon　their
stands。　Coming　to　the　door　of　the　solar　I　tried　to　open　it；　but　it　was
bolted。

〃God's　truth！〃　I　said；　〃this　is　strange；〃　and　hammered　on　the　panel
with　my　fist。

Presently　it　opened；　but　before　entering　it；　for　I　feared　some　trick；
I　stood　without　and　looked　in。　The　room　was　lit　by　a　hanging　lamp　and
a　fire　burned　brightly　on　the　hearth；　for　the　night　was　cold。　In　an
oak　chair　by　the　fire　and　staring　into　it　sat　Blanche　still　as　any
statue。　She　glanced　round　and　saw　me　in　the　light　of　the　candles　that
Kari　held；　and　again　stared　into　the　fire。　Half…way　between　her　and
the　door　stood　Deleroy；　dressed　as　ever　in　fine　clothes；　though　I
noted　that　his　cape　was　off　and　hung　over　a　stool　near　the　fire　as
though　to　dry。　I　noted　also　that　he　wore　a　sword　and　a　dagger。　I
entered　the　room；　followed　by　Kari；　shut　the　door　behind　me　and　shot
the　bolt。　Then　I　spoke；　asking：

〃Why　are　you　here　with　my　wife；　Lord　Deleroy？〃

〃It　is　strange；　Master　merchant；〃　he　answered；　〃but　I　was　about　to　put
much　the　same　question　to　you：　namely；　why　is　/my/　wife　in　your
house？〃

Now；　while　I　reeled　beneath　these　words；　without　turning　her　head；
Blanche　by　the　fire　said：

〃He　lies；　Hubert。　I　am　not　his　wife。〃

〃Why　are　you　here；　my　Lord　Deleroy？〃　I　repeated。

〃Well；　if　you　would　know；　Master　merchant；　I　bring　a　paper　for　you；　or
rather　a　copy　of　it；　for　the　writ　itself　will　be　served　on　you
to…morrow　by　the　King's　officers。　It　commits　you　to　the　Tower　under
the　royal　seal　for　trading　with　the　King's　enemies；　a　treason　that　can
be　proved　against　you；　of　which　as　you　know；　or　will　shortly　learn；
the　punishment　is　death；〃　and　as　he　spoke　he　threw　a　writing　down　upon
a　side　table。

〃I　see　the　plot；〃　I　answered　coldly。　〃The　King's　unworthy　favourite；
forger　and　thief；　uses　the　King's　authority　to　try　to　bring　the　King's
honest　subject　to　bonds　and　death　by　a　false　accusation。　It　is　a
common　trick　in　these　days。　But　let　that　be。　For　the　third　time　I　ask
youwhy　are　you　here　with　my　new…wed　wife　and　at　this　hour　of　the
night？〃

〃So　courteous　a　question　demands　a　courteous　answer；　Master　merchant；
but　to　give　it　I　must　trouble　you　to　listen　to　a　tale。〃

〃Then　let　it　be　like　my　patience；　brief；〃　I　replied。

〃It　shall；〃　he　said　with　a　mocking　bow。

Then　very　clearly　and　quietly　he　set　out　a　dreadful　story；　giving
dates　and　circumstances。　Let　that　story　be。　The　substance　of　it　was
that　he　had　married　Blanche　soon　after　she　reached　womanhood　and　that
she　had　borne　him　a　child　which　died。

〃Blanche；〃　I　said　when　he　had　done；　〃you　have　heard。　Is　this　true？〃

〃Much　of　it　is　true；〃　she　answered　in　that　strange；　cold　voice；　still
staring　at　the　fire。　〃Only　the　marriage　was　a　false　one　by　which　I　was
deceived。　He　who　celebrated　it　was　a　companion　of　the　Lord　Deleroy
tricked　out　as　a　priest。〃

〃Do　not　let　us　wrangle　of　this　matter；〃　said　Deleroy。　〃A　man　who　mixes
with　the　world　like　yourself；　Master　merchant；　will　know　that