the virgin of the sun-第24章
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〃Do not let us wrangle of this matter；〃 said Deleroy。 〃A man who mixes
with the world like yourself； Master merchant； will know that women in
a trap rarely lack excuses。 Still if it be admitted that this marriage
did not fulfil all formalities； then so much the better for Blanche
and myself。 If she be your lawful wife and not mine； you； I learn；
have signed a writing in her favour under which she will inherit your
great wealth。 That indenture I think you can find no opportunity to
dispute； and if you do I have a promise that the property of a certain
traitor shall pass to me； the revealer of his treachery。 Let it
console you in your last moments； Master merchant； to remember that
the lady whom you have honoured with your fancy will pass her days in
wealth and comfort in the company of him whom she has honoured with
her love。〃
〃Draw！〃 I said briefly as I unsheathed my sword。
〃Why should I fight with a base； trading usurer？〃 he asked； still
mocking me； though I thought that there was doubt in his voice。
〃Answer your own question； thief。 Fight if you will； or die without
fighting if you will not。 For know that until I am dead you do not
leave this room living。〃
〃Until I dead too； O Lord；〃 broke in Kari in his gentle voice； bowing
in his courteous foreign fashion。
As he did so with a sudden motion Kari shook the cloak back from his
body and for the first time I saw that thrust through his leathern
belt was a long weapon； half sword and half dagger； also that its
sharpened steel was bare。
〃Oh！〃 exclaimed Deleroy； 〃now I understand that I am trapped and that
when you told me； Blanche； that this man would not return to…night and
that therefore we were safe together； you lied。 Well； my Lady Blanche；
you shall pay for this trick later。〃
Whilst he spoke thus； slowly； as though to gain time； he was looking
about him； and as the last word left his lips； knowing that the door
was locked； he dashed for the window； hoping； I suppose； to leap
through the casement； or if that failed； to shout for help。 But Kari；
who had set the candles he bore on a side table； that where the
writing lay； read his mind。 With a movement more swift than that of a
polecat leaping on its prey； the swiftest indeed that ever I saw； he
sprang between him and the casement； so that Deleroy scarce escaped
pinning himself upon the steel that he held in his long； outstretched
arm。 Indeed； I think it pricked his throat； for he checked himself
with an oath and drew his sword； a double…edged weapon with a sharp
point； as long as mine perhaps； but not so heavy。
〃I see that I must finish the pair of you。 Perchance； Blanche； you
will protect my back as a loving wife should do； until this lout is
done with；〃 he said； swaggering to the last。
〃Kari；〃 I commanded； 〃hold the candles aloft that the light may be
good； and leave this man to me。〃
Kari bowed and took the copper taper stands； one in either hand； and
held them aloft。 But first he placed his long dagger； not back in his
belt； but between his teeth with the handle towards his right hand。
Even then in some strange fashion I noted how terrible looked this
grim dark man holding the candles high with the knife gripped between
his white teeth。
Deleroy and I faced each other in the open space between the fire and
the door。 Blanche turned round upon her stool and watched； uttering no
sound。 But I laughed aloud for of the end I had no doubt。 Had there
been ten Deleroys I would have slain them all。 Still presently I found
there was cause to doubt； for when； parrying his first thrust； I drove
at him with all my strength； instead of piercing him through and
through the ancient sword； Wave…Flame； bent in my hand like a bow as
it is strung； telling me that beneath his Joseph's coat of silk
Deleroy wore a shirt of mail。
Then I cried： 〃/A…hoi！/〃 as Thorgrimmer my ancestor may have done when
he wielded this same sword； and while Deleroy still staggered beneath
my thrust I grasped Wave…Flame with both hands； wheeled it aloft； and
smote。 He lifted his arm round which he had wound his cloak； to
protect his head； but the sword shore through cloak and arm； so that
his hand with the glittering rings upon it fell to the floor。
Again I smote for； as both of us knew； this business was to the death；
and Deleroy fell down dead； smitten through the brain。
Kari smiled gently； and lifting the cloak； shook it out and threw it
over what had been Deleroy。 Then he took my sword and while I watched
him idly； cleansed it with rushes from the floor。
Next I heard a sound from the neighbourhood of the fire； and
bethinking me of Blanche turned to speak to her； though what I was
going to say God knows for I do not。
A terrible sight met my eyes and burned itself into my very soul so
that it could never be forgot。 Blanche was leaning back in the oak
chair over which flowed her long； fair locks； and the front of her
robe was red。 I remembered how she had spilt the wine at the feast and
thought I saw its stain； till presently； still staring； I noted that
it grew and knew it to be caused by another wine； that of her blood。
Also I noted that from the midst of it seen in the lamplight； just
beneath the snake…encircled ruby heart； appeared the little handle of
a dagger。
I sprang to her； but she lifted her hand and waved me back。
〃Touch me not；〃 she whispered； 〃I am not fit； also the thrust is
mortal。 If you draw the knife I shall die at once； and first I would
speak。 I would have you know that I love you and hoped to be a good
wife to you。 What I said was true。 That dead man tricked me with a
false marriage when I was scarcely more than a child； and afterwards
he would not mend it with an honest。 Perchance he himself was wed； or
he had other reasons； I do not know。 My father guessed much but not
all。 I tried to warn you when you offered yourself； but you were deaf
and blind and would not see or listen。 Then I gave way； liking you
well and thinking that I should find rest； as indeed I do； thinking
also that I should be wealthy and able to shut that villain's mouth
with gold。 I never knew he was coming here or even that he had sailed
home from France； but he broke in upon me； having learned that you
were away； and was about to leave when you returned。 He came for money
for which he believed that I had wed； and thinking to win me back from
one doomed by his lies to a traitor's death。 You know the rest； and
for me there was but one thing to do。 Be glad that you are no longer
burdened with me and go find happiness in the arms of a more fortunate
or a better woman。 Fly； and swiftly； for Deleroy had many friends and
the King himself loved him as a brotheras well he may。 Fly； I say；
and forgiveforgive！ Hubert； farewell！〃
Thus she spoke； ever more slowly and lower； till with the last word
her life left her lips。
Thus ended the story of my marriage with Blanche Aleys。
BOOK II
CHAPTER I
THE NEW WORLD
They were forever silent now； who； but a breath before； had been so
full of life and the stir of mortal passion； Deleroy dead beneath the
cloak upon the floor； Blanche dead in the oaken chair。 We who remained
alive were silent also。 I glanced at Kari's face； it was as that of a
stone statue on a tomb； only in it his large eyes shone； noting all
things and； as I imagined in my distraught fancy； filled with triumph
and foreknowledge。 Considering it in that strange calm of the spirit
which sometimes supervenes on great and terrible events that for a
while crush its mortality from the soul and set it free to marvel at
the temporal pettiness of all we consider immediate and mighty； I
wondered what was the aspect of my own。
At the moment； I； who on this day had passed the portals of so many
emotions： that of the lover's longing for his bride won at last； only
to be lost again； that of acute and necessary business； that of the
ancient joy of battle and vengeance wreaked upon an evil man； that of
the unshuttering of my own eyes to the flame of a hellish truth； that
of the self…murder and turning to cold clay before those same
