red eve-第21章
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what could she do when you smoothed her plumage with your loving hand；
and a priest was waiting to say the word that should cause her to
forget her doubts and that merchant bumpkin？〃
〃Ah； Nicholas； you have a good wit； and if all goes well you shall
certainly be an abbot。 But would her father； do you think〃
〃Lord； that beef…eating knight is in such a rage that he would do
anything。 What did he say just before the stroke took him？ That you
were to marry her by fair means or by foul。 Yes； and he told me an
hour ago that if only he knew she was your wife； he would die happy。
Oh； you have his warrant for anything you do to bring about this end。
Still there is no need to tell him too much lest it should cause his
good name to be aspersed by the vulgar。 Many； it seems； love this Red
Eve for her high spirit； and are friends to the de Cressis； an open…
handed race who know how to bind folk to them。 Listen how it must be
done。〃
That day it was given out that Sir Edmund Acour； those of his knights
who remained alive and all his following were about to leave for
London and lay their cause before the King； having learned that Hugh
de Cressi had gone thither to prejudice his Grace on his own behalf。
It was added； moreover； that they would not return to Suffolk； but
proposed when they had found justice or the promise of it； to take
ship at Dover for France。 Next morning； accordingly； they rode away
from Blythburgh Manor and passed through Dunwich with much pomp； where
the citizens of that town； who were friends of the de Cressis； stared
at them with no kind eyes。 Indeed； one of these as they crossed the
market…place called to them to be careful not to meet Hugh de Cressi
and Grey Dick upon their journey； lest there should be more midnight
burials and men…at…arms turned into foot…soldiers； whereat all about
him laughed rudely。
But Acour did not laugh。 He ground his teeth and said into the ear of
Nicholas：
〃Register this vow for me； priest； that in payment for that jest I'll
sack and burn Dunwich when our army comes； and give its men and
children to the sword and its women to the soldiers。〃
〃It shall be done； lord；〃 answered the chaplain； 〃and should your
heart soften at the appointed time I'll put you in memory of this
solemn oath。〃
At the great house of the Mayor of Dunwich Sir Edmund drew rein and
demanded to see him。 Presently this Mayor； a timid； uncertain…looking
man； came in his robes of office and asked anxiously what might be the
cause of this message and why an armed band halted at his gate。
〃For no ill purpose； sir；〃 answered Acour； 〃though little of justice
have I found at your hands； who； therefore； must seek it at the Court
of my liege lord； King Edward。 All I ask of you is that you will cause
this letter to be delivered safely to the lady Eve Clavering； who lies
in sanctuary at the Preceptory of St。 Mary and St。 John。 It is one of
farewell； since it seems that this lady who； by her own will and her
father's； was my affianced； wishes to break troth； and I am not a man
who needs an unwilling bride。 I'd deliver it myself only that old
knave； half priest and half knight； but neither good〃
〃You'd best speak no ill of Sir Andrew Arnold here；〃 said a voice in
the crowd。
〃Only the master of the Preceptory；〃 went on Acour； changing his tone
somewhat； 〃might take fright and think I wished to violate his
sanctuary if I came there with thirty spears at my back。〃
〃And no fool either；〃 said the voice； 〃seeing that they are French
spears and his is an English sanctuary。〃
〃Therefore；〃 continued Acour； 〃I pray you； deliver the letter。
Perchance when we meet again； Master Mayor；〃 he added with a venomous
glance of his dark eyes； 〃you will have some boon to ask of me； and be
sure I'll grant itif I can。〃
Then without waiting for an answer； for the mob of sturdy fishermen；
many of whom had served in the French wars； looked threatening； he and
his following rode away through the Ipswich gate and out on to the
moorlands beyond； which some of them knew but too well。
All the rest of that day they rode slowly； but when night came； having
halted their horses at a farm and given it out that they meant to push
on to Woodbridge； they turned up a by…track on the lonely heath； and；
unseen by any； made their through the darkness to a certain empty
house in the marshes not far from Beccles town。 This house； called
Frog Hall； was part of Acour's estate； and because of the ague
prevalent there in autumn； had been long unattended。 Nor did any visit
it at this season of the year； when no cattle grazed upon these salt
marshes。
Here； then； he and his people lay hid； cursing their fortunes； since；
notwithstanding the provisions that they had conveyed thither in
secret； the place was icy cold in the bitter； easterly winds which
tore over it from the sea。 So lonely was it； also； that the Frenchmen
swore that their comrades slain by Grey Dick haunted them at nights；
bidding them prepare to join the number of the dead。 Indeed； had not
Acour vowed that he would hang the first man who attempted to desert；
some of them would have left him to make the best of their way back to
France。 For always as they crouched by the smoking hearth they dreamed
of Grey Dick and his terrible arrows。
Sir Edmund Acour's letter came safely into the hands of Eve； brought
to her by the Mayor himself。 It read thus：
Lady；
You will no more of me； so however much you should live to ask it；
I will have no more of you。 I go hang your merchant lout； and
afterward away to France； who wish to have done with your cold
Suffolk； where you may buy my lands cheap if you will。 Yet； should
Master Hugh de Cressi chance to escape me； I counsel you to marry
him； for I can wish you no worse fate； seeing what you will be；
than to remember what you might have been。 Meanwhile it is my duty
as a Christian to tell you； in case you should desire to speak to
him ere it be too late； that your father lies at the point of
death from a sickness brought on by his grief at the slaying of
his son and your cruel desertion of him； and calls for you in his
ravings。 May God forgive you； as I try to do； all the evil that
you have wrought； which； perhaps； is not done with yet。 Unless
Fate should bring us together again； for as aught I know it may； I
bid you farewell forever。 Would that I had never seen your face；
but well are you named Red Eve； who； like the false Helen in a
story you have never heard； were born to bring brave men to their
deaths。 Again farewell；
De Noyon。
〃Who is this Helen？〃 asked Eve of Sir Andrew when the letter had been
read。
〃A fair Grecian； daughter； over whom nations fought when the world was
young； because of her beauty。〃
〃Ah； well！ she did not make herself beautiful； did she？ and；
perchance； was more sinned against than sinning； since women； having
but one life to live； must follow their own hearts。 But this Helen has
been dead a long while； so let her rest； if rest she may。 And now it
seems that Acour is away and that my father lies very sick。 What shall
I do？ Return to him？〃
〃First I will make sure that the Frenchman has gone； and then we will
see； daughter。〃
So Sir Andrew sent out messengers who reported it to be true that
Acour had ridden straight to London to see the King and then sail for
Dover。 Also they said that no Frenchmen were left at Blythburgh save
those who would never leave the place again； and that Sir John
Clavering lay sick in his bed at the manor。
〃God fights for us！〃 said Sir Andrew with a little laugh。 〃This
Acour's greeting at Court may be warmer than he thinks and at the
least you and Dunwich are well rid of him。 Though I had sooner that
you stayed here； to…morrow； daughter； you shall ride to Blythburgh。
Should your father die； as I think he will ere long； it might grieve
you in the after years to remember that you had bid him no farewell。
If he recovers or is harsh with you it will be easy for you to seek
sanctuary again。〃
CHAPTER VII
THE LOVE PHILTRE
