red eve-第25章
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chamber； and Eve wondered why she smiled。
A while later she grew very sleepy； and； as it seemed to her； had
strange dreams in her sleep。 She dreamed of her childhood； when she
and Hugh played together upon the Dunwich shore。 She dreamed of her
mother； and thought dimly that she was warning her of something。 She
heard voices about her and thought that they were calling her to be
free。 Yes； and followed them readily enough； or so it seemed in her
dream； followed them out of that hateful prison； for the bolts clanged
behind her； down stairs and into the courtyard； where the sun's light
almost blinded her and the fresh air struck her hot brow like ice。
Then there were more voices； and people moving to and fro and the
drone of a priest praying and a touch upon her hand from which she
shrank。 And oh！ she wished that dream were done； for it was long；
long。 It wearied her； and grasped her heart with a cold clutch of
fear。
CHAPTER VIII
TOO LATE
It was past three o'clock on this same day when Eve had drunk the milk
and some hours after she began to dream； that Hugh de Cressi and his
men； safe and sound but weary； halted their tired horses at the door
of the Preceptory of the Templars in Dunwich。
〃Best go on to his worship the Mayor and serve the King's writ upon
him； master；〃 grumbled Grey Dick as they rode up Middlegate Street。
〃You wasted good time in a shooting bout at Windsor against my will；
and now you'll waste more time in a talking match at Dunwich。 And the
sun grows low； and the Frenchmen may have heard and be on the wing；
and who can see to lay a shaft at night？〃
〃Nay； man；〃 answered Hugh testily； 〃first I must know how she fares。〃
〃The lady Eve will fare neither better nor worse for your knowing
about her； but one with whom you should talk may fare further； for
doubtless his spies are out。 But have your way and leave me to thank
God that no woman ever found a chance to clog my leg； perhaps because
I was not born an ass。〃
It is doubtful if Hugh heard these pungent and practical remarks； for
ere Dick had finished speaking them； he was off his horse； and
hammering at the Preceptory door。 Some while passed before any answer
came； for Sir Andrew was walking in the garden beyond the church； in
no happy mind because of certain rumours that had reached him； and the
old nun Agnes； spying armed men and not knowing who they were； was
afraid to open。 So it came about that fifteen minutes or more went by
before at length Hugh and his godsire stood face to face。
〃How is Eve and where？ Why is she not with you； Father？〃 he burst out。
〃One question at a time； son； for whose safe return I thank God。 I
know not how she is； and she is not with me because she is not here。
She has returned to her father at Blythburgh。〃
〃Why？〃 gasped Hugh。 〃You swore to keep her safe。〃
〃Peace； and you shall learn；〃 and as shortly as he could he told him。
〃Is that all？〃 asked Hugh doubtfully； for he saw trouble in Sir
Andrew's face。
〃Not quite； son。 Only to…day I have learned that Acour and his folk
never went to London； and are back again at Blythburgh Manor。〃
〃So much the better； Father； for now I have the King's warrant
addressed to the Mayor and all his Grace's subject in Dunwich； to take
these Frenchmen； living or dead。〃
〃Ah！ But I have learned also that her father holds Eve a prisoner；
suffering her to speak with none； andone lamb among those wolves
Oh！ God！ why didst Thou suffer my wisdom to fail me？ Doubtless for
some good purposewhere is my faith？ Yet we must act。 Hie； you
there；〃 he called to one of the men…at…arms； 〃go to Master de Cressi's
house and bid him meet us by the market…cross mounted and armed； with
all his sons and people。 And； you； get out my horse。 Mother Agnes；
bring my armour； since I have no other squire！ We'll go to the Mayor。
Now； while I don my harness； tell me all that's passed； wasting no
words。〃
Another half…hour almost had gone by before Hugh met his father； two
of his brothers and some men riding into the market…place。 They
greeted in haste but thankfulness； and something of the tale was told
while they passed on to the house of the Mayor； who； as they thought；
had already been warned of their coming by messengers。 But here
disappointment awaited them； for this officer； a man of wealth and
honour； was； as it chanced； absent on a visit to Norwich； whence it
was said that he would not return for three full days。
〃Now what shall we do？〃 asked Sir Andrew； his face falling。 〃It is
certain that the burgesses of Dunwich will not draw sword in an
unknown quarrel； except upon the direct order of their chief； for
there is no time to collect them and publish the King's warrant。 It
would seem that we must wait till to…morrow and prepare to…night。〃
〃Not I；〃 answered Hugh。 〃The warrant is to me as well as to the Mayor。
I'll leave it with his clerk； which is good delivery； and away to
Blythburgh Manor on the instant with any who will follow me； or
without them。 Come； Dick； for night draws on and we've lost much
time。〃
Now his father tried to dissuade him； but he would not listen； for the
fear in his heart urged him forward。 So the end of it was that the
whole party of themthirteen men in all； counting those that Master
de Cressi brought； rode away across the heath to Blythburgh； though
the horses of Hugh's party being very weary； not so fast as he could
have wished。
Just as the sun sank they mounted the slope of the farther hill on the
crest of which stood the manor…house backed by winds。
〃The drawbridge is down； thanks be to God！〃 said Sir Andrew； 〃which
shows that no attack is feared。 I doubt me； son； we shall find Acour
flown。〃
〃That we shall know presently；〃 answered Hugh。
〃Now； dismount all and follow me。〃
They obeyed； though some of them who knew old Sir John's temper seemed
not to like the business。 Leaving two of their people with the horses；
they crossed the bridge； thinking to themselves that the great house
seemed strangely silent and deserted。 Now they were in the outer
court； on one side of which stood the chapel； and still there was no
one to be seen。 Dick tapped Hugh upon the shoulder； pointing to a
window of this chapel that lay in the shadow； through which came a
faint glimmering of light； as though tapers burned upon the altar。
〃I think there's a burying yonder；〃 he whispered； 〃at which all men
gather。〃
Hugh blanched； for might it not be Eve whom they buried？ But Sir
Andrew； noting it； said：
〃Nay； nay； Sir John was sick。 Come； let us look。〃
The door of the chapel was open and they walked through it as quietly
as they could； to find the place； which was not very large； filled
with people。 Of these they took no heed； for the last rays of the
sunlight flowing through the western window； showed them a scene that
held their eyes。
A priest stood before the lighted altar holding his hands in
benediction over a pair who kneeled at its rail。 One of these wore a
red cloak down which her dark hair streamed。 She leaned heavily
against the rail； as a person might who is faint with sleep or with
the ardour of her orisons。 It was Red Eve； no other！
At her side； clad in gleaming mail； kneeled a knight。 Close by Eve
stood her father； looking at her with a troubled air； and behind the
knight were other knights and men…at…arms。 In the little nave were all
the people of the manor and with them those that dwelt around； every
one of them intently watching the pair before the altar。
The priest perceived them at first just as the last word of the
blessing passed his lips。
〃Why do armed strangers disturb God's house？〃 he asked in a warning
voice。
The knight at the altar rails sprang up and turned round。 Hugh saw
that it was Acour； but even then he noted that the woman at his side；
she who wore Eve's garment； never stirred from her knees。
Sir John Clavering glared down the chapel； and all the other people
turned to look at them。 Now Hugh and his company halted in the open
space where the nave joined the chancel； and said； answering the
priest：
〃I come hither with my companions bearing the warrant
