red eve-第14章

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French。

〃Then；　Sir　Pierre　de　la　Roche；〃　said　Hugh；　〃here　you　and　your　people
must　bide　until　some　come　to　set　you　free；　which；　as　this　place　is
lonely　and　little　crossed　in　winter；　may　be　to…day　or　may　be
to…morrow。　When　at　length　you　get　back　to　Blythburgh　Manor；　however；
or　to　Dunwich　town；　I　trust　it　to　your　honour　to　declare　that　Hugh　de
Cressi　has　dealt　well　with　you。　For　whereas　he　might　have　slain　you
every　one；　as　you　would　have　slain　him　and　his　if　you　could；　he　has
harmed　no　hair　of　your　heads。　As　for　your　horses；　these；　to　his
sorrow；　he　was　obliged　to　kill　lest　they　should　be　used　to　ride　him
down。　Will　you　do　this　of　your　courtesy？〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　the　knight；　〃since　to　your　gentleness　we　owe　our　lives。
But　with　your　leave　I　will　add　that　we　were　overcome　not　by　men；　but
by　a　devil〃and　he　nodded　toward　Grey　Dick〃since　no　one　who　is　only
man　can　have　such　hellish　skill　in　archery　as　we　saw　yesterday；　and
now　again　this　morning。　Moreover；〃　he　went　on；　contemplating　Dick's
ashen　hair　and　cold　eyes　set　wide　apart　in　the　rocky　face；　like　to
those　of　a　Suffolk　horse；　〃the　man's　air　shows　that　he　is　in　league
with　Satan。〃

〃I'll　not　render　your　words　into　our　English　talk；　Sir　Pierre；〃
replied　Hugh；　〃lest　he　of　whom　you　speak　should　take　them　amiss　and
send　you　where　you　might　learn　them　false。　For　know；　had　he　been　what
you　say；　the　arrow　that　lies　in　your　horse's　heart　would　have　nailed
the　breastplate　to　your　own。　Now　take　a　message　from　me　to　your　lord；
Sir　Edmund　Acour；　the　traitor。　Tell　him　that　I　shall　return　ere　long；
and　that　if　he　should　dare　to　attempt　ill　toward　the　Lady　Eve；　who　is
my　betrothed；　or　toward　my　father　and　brethren；　or　any　of　my　House；　I
promise；　in　Grey　Dick's　name　and　my　own；　to　kill　him　or　those　who　may
aid　him　as　I　would　kill　a　forest　wolf　that　had　slunk　into　my
sheepfold。　Farewell！　There　is　bracken　and　furze　yonder　where　you　may
lie　warm　till　some　pass　your　way。　Mount；　men！〃

So　they　rode　forward；　bearing　all　the　Clavering　weapons　with　them；
which　a　mile　or　two　further　on　Grey　Dick　hid　in　an　empty　fox's　earth
where　he　knew　he　could　find　them　again。　Only　he　kept　the　French
knight's　beautiful　dagger　that　was　made　of　Spanish　steel；　inlaid　with
gold；　and　used　it　to　his　life's　end。

Here　it　may　be　told　that　it　was　not　until　thirty…six　hours　had　gone
by；　as　Hugh　learned　afterward；　that　a　countryman　brought　this　knight
and　his　companions；　more　dead　than　alive；　to　Dunwich　in　his　wain。　As
he　was　travelling　across　Westleton　Heath；　with　a　load　of　corn　to　be
ground　at　the　Dunwich　mill；　it　seemed　that　he　heard　voices　calling
feebly；　and　guided　by　them　found　these　unhappy　men　half　buried　in　the
snow　that　had　fallen　on　that　day；　and　so　rescued　them　from　death。

But　when　Sir　Edmund　Acour　knew　the　story　of　their　overthrow　and　of　the
message　that　Hugh　had　sent　to　him；　he　raved　at　them；　and　especially　at
Sir　Pierre　de　la　Roche；　saying　that　the　worst　of　young　de　Cressi's
crimes　against　him　was　that　he　had　left　such　cowardly　hounds　alive
upon　the　earth。　So　he　went　on　madly　till　Sir　John　Clavering　checked
him；　bidding　him　wait　to　revile　these　men　until　he；　and　not　his　horse；
had　met　Grey　Dick's　arrows　and　Hugh　de　Cressi's　sword。

〃For；〃　he　added；　〃it　may　happen　then　that　you　will　fare　no　better　than
they　have　done；　or　than　did　John；　my　son。〃



On　the　morning　of　the　third　day　after　they　left　Dunwich；　having　been
much　delayed　by　foul　weather　and　fouler　roads；　Hugh　de　Cressi　and　his
company　came　at　length　to　London。　They　had　suffered　no　further
adventure　on　their　way　for；　though　the　times　were　rough　and　they　met
many　evil…looking　fellows；　none　ventured　to　lift　hand　against　six　men
so　well　armed　and　sturdy。　Guided　by　one　of　their　number　who　had　often
been　to　London　on　Master　de　Cressi's　business；　they　rode　straight　to
Westminster。　Having　stabled　their　horses　at　an　inn　near　by；　and
cleaned　the　mire　of　the　road　from　their　mail　and　garments；　they　went
up　to　the　palace；　where　Hugh　told　his　errand　to　an　officer　whom　he
found　on　duty　at　the　gate。

〃Then　it　is　a　fool's　errand；〃　said　the　captain；　〃seeing　that　his　Grace
rode　yesterday　to　his　castle　at　Windsor　to　hunt　and　revel；　and　will　be
gone　eight　days　at　the　least。〃

〃Then　to　Windsor　I　must　follow；〃　answered　Hugh。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　V

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　GREY　DICK　SHOWS　HIS　ARCHERY

So　sorely　did　the　horses　need　rest；　that　Hugh　and　his　people　could　not
ride　from　London　till　the　following　morning；　and　evening　was　closing
in　before　they　found　themselves　drawing　near　the　gate　of　Windsor
Castle。　In　the　market…place　of　the　little　town　they　pulled　rein；　while
one　of　them　went　to　search　for　a　good　inn　at　which　they　might　lie；　for
the　place　seemed　to　be　very　full　of　people。　Suddenly；　as　they　stood
there；　wondering　at　the　mighty；　new…built　keep　which　towered　above
them；　a　trumpet　was　blown　and　from　round　a　corner　appeared　a　gay
procession　of　noble…looking　men；　and　with　them　some　ladies；　who
carried　hawk　on　wrist；　all　mounted　on　splendid　horses。

Now；　the　people　who　had　gathered　to　study　the　strangers　or　tout　for
their　custom；　took　off　their　bonnets　and　bent　low；　saying：　〃The　King！
The　King！　God　save　him！〃

〃Which　is　his　Grace？〃　asked　Hugh　of　one　of　them；　whereon　the　man
pointed　to　a　royal…eyed　and　bearded　knight；　still　in　early　middle
life；　who　rode　toward　him；　talking　to　a　gallant　youth　at　his　side。

Now　a　thought　came　into　Hugh's　mind　that　the　present　time　is　always
the　best　time　to　strike。　Leaping　from　his　horse；　he　advanced　bowing；
and　stood　in　the　pathway　of　the　King。　Seeing　this；　two　of　the　fine
Court　lords　spurred　their　horses　and　rode　straight　at　him；　thinking　to
drive　him　back。　But　he　held　his　ground；　for　their　insolence　made　him
angry；　and；　catching　the　bridle　of　one　of　the　horses；　threw　it　on　its
haunches　so　sharply　that　the　knight　who　rode　it　rolled　from　his　saddle
into　the　mire；　whereupon　every　one　laughed。　In　a　moment　he　was　on　his
feet　again；　and　shouting：

〃Out　of　the　road；　jackanapes；　dressed　in　your　grandfather's　mail；
unless　you　would　stop　there　in　the　stocks。　Do　you　know　whose　path　you
block？〃

〃That　of　his　Grace；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃for　whom　I　have　a　message　that　he
will　be　glad　to　hear；　and；　popinjay；　this　for　yourself；　were　it　not
for　his　presence　it　is　you　who　should　stop　upon　the　road　till　you　were
carried　thence。〃

Now；　noting　this　disturbance；　the　King　spoke　to　the　youth　at　his　side；
who　came　forward　and　said；　in　a　pleasant；　courteous　voice；　addressing
Hugh：

〃Sir；　why　do　you　make　trouble　in　these　streets；　and　tumble　the　good
Sir　Ambrose　Lacey　from　his　horse　with　such　scant　ceremony？〃

〃Sir；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃because　the　good　Sir　Ambrose　tried　to　ride　his
horse　over　me　for　no　offence　save　that　I　would　deliver　a　message　to
his　Grace；　which　he　will　wish　to　hear。〃

〃This　is　scarcely　a　time　for　the　giving　of　messages；〃　replied　the
young　man；　〃but　what　is　your　name；　and　who　sends　the　message？　I　am　the
Prince　Edward；〃　he　added　modestly；　〃so　you　may　speak　to　me　without
fear。〃

〃My　name　is　Hugh　de　Cressi；　your　Highness；　and　I　am　sent　by　the
Reverend　Father　Sir　Andrew　Arnold；　of　Dunwich；　and　have　followed　his
Grace　from　Westminster；　whither　I　and　my　men　rode　first。〃

Now；　the　Prince　went　to　the　King　and　spoke　to　him；　and；　returning
presently；　said：

〃My　father　says　that　he　knows　both　the　names　you　give　well　enough　and
holds　them　dear。　He　bids　that　you　and　your　people　should　follow　him　to
the　castle；　where　you　will　be　entertained；　with　your　horses。　Sir
Ambrose；〃　he　added；　〃the　King　desires　that　you　should　forget　your
choler；　since　he　saw　what　passed；　and　deems　that　this　young　stranger
did　well　to　check　your　horse。　Follow　on；　Hugh　de　Cressi；　the　officers
will　show　you　where　you　and　your　men　may　lodge。〃

So　Hugh　obeyed；　and　rode　with　the　rest　of　the　train　and　his　folks
through　the　gates　of　Windsor　Castle。　Nor　did　they　do　so　unobserved；
since　many　of　the　Court　had　no　love　for　Sir　Ambrose；　and　were　glad　to
see　him　tumbled　in　the　mire。

After　they　had　stabled　their　beasts；　as　Hugh；　followed　by　Grey　Dick；
was　advancing　toward　a　hall　which　he　was　told　that　he　might　enter；　an
officer　came　up。

〃H