red eve-第26章
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priest：
〃I come hither with my companions bearing the warrant of the King to
seize Edmund Acour； Count de Noyon； and convey him to London； there to
stand his trial on a charge of high treason toward his liege lord；
Edward of England。 Yield you； Sir Edmund Acour。〃
At these bold words the French knights and squires drew their swords
and ringed themselves round their captain； whereon Hugh and his party
also drew their swords。
〃Stay；〃 cried old Sir Andrew in his ringing voice。 〃Let no blood be
shed in the holy house of God。 You men of Suffolk； know that you
harbour a foul traitor in your bosoms； one who plots to deliver you to
the French。 Lift no hand on his behalf； lest on you also should fall
the vengeance of the King； who has issued his commands to all his
officers and people； to seize Acour living or dead。〃
Now a silence fell upon the place； for none liked this talk of the
King's warrant； and in the midst of it Hugh asked：
〃Do you yield； Sir Edmund Acour； or must we and the burgesses of
Dunwich who gather without seize you and your people？〃
Acour turned and began to talk rapidly with the priest Nicholas； while
the congregation stared at each other。 Then Sir John Clavering； who
all this while had been listening like a man in a dream； suddenly
stepped forward。
〃Hugh de Cressi；〃 he said； 〃tell me； does the King's writ run against
John Clavering？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered Hugh； 〃I told his Grace that you were an honest man
deceived by a knave。〃
〃Then what do you； slayer of my son； in my house？ Know that I have
just married my daughter to this knight whom you name traitor； and
that I here defend him to the last who is now my kin。 Begone and seek
elsewhere； or stay and die。〃
〃How have you married her？〃 asked Hugh in a hollow voice。 〃Not of her
own will； surely？ Rise； Eve； and tell us the truth。〃
Eve stirred。 Resting her hands upon the altar rails； slowly she raised
herself to her feet and turned her white face toward him。
〃Who spoke？〃 she said。 〃Was it Hugh that Acour swore is dead？ Oh！
where am I？ Hugh； Hugh； what passes？〃
〃Your honour； it seems； Eve。 They say you are married to this
traitor。〃
〃I married； and in this red robe！ Why； that betokens blood； as blood
there must be if I am wed to any man save you；〃 and she laughed； a
dreadful laugh。
〃In the name of Christ；〃 thundered old Sir Andrew； 〃tell me； John
Clavering； what means this play？ Yonder woman is no willing wife。
She's drugged or mad。 Man； have you doctored your own daughter？〃
〃Doctored my daughter？ I！ I！ Were you not a priest I'd tear out your
tongue for those words。 She's married and of her own will。 Else would
she have stood silent at this altar？〃
〃It shall be inquired of later；〃 Hugh answered coldly。 〃Now yield you；
Sir Edmund Acour； the King's business comes first。〃
〃Nay；〃 shouted Clavering； springing forward and drawing his sword； 〃in
my house my business comes first。 Acour is my daughter's husband and
so shall stay till death or Pope part them。 Out of this； Hugh de
Cressi； with all your accursed chapman tribe。〃
Hugh walked toward Acour； taking no heed。 Then suddenly Sir John
lifted his sword and smote with all his strength。 The blow caught Hugh
on the skull and down he fell； his mail clattering on the stones； and
lay still。 With a whine of rage； Grey Dick leapt at Clavering； drawing
from his side the archer's axe he always wore。 But old Sir Andrew
caught and held him in his arms。
〃Vengeance is God's； not ours；〃 he said。 〃Look！〃
As he spoke Sir John began to sway to and fro。 He let fall his
murdering sword； he pressed his hands upon his heart； he threw them
high。 Then suddenly his knees gave beneath him； he sank to the floor a
huddled heap and sat there； resting against the altar rail over which
his head hung backward； open mouthed and eyed。
The last light of the sky went out； only that of the tapers remained。
Eve； awake at last； sent up shriek after shriek； Sir Andrew bending
over the two fallen men； the murderer and the murdered； began to
shrive them swiftly ere the last beat of life should have left their
pulses。 His father； brothers； and Grey Dick clustered round Hugh and
lifted him。 The fox…faced priest； Nicholas； whispered quick words into
the ears of Acour and his knights。 Acour nodded and took a step toward
Eve； who just then fell swooning and was grasped by Grey Dick with his
left hand； for in his right he still held the axe。
〃No； no；〃 hissed Nicholas； dragging Sir Edmund back； 〃life is more
than any woman。〃 Then some one overset the tapers； so that the place
was plunged in gloom； and through it none saw Acour and his train
creep out by the chancel door and hurry to their horses； which waited
saddled in the inner yard。
The frightened congregation fled from the nave with white faces； each
seeking his own place； or any other that was far from Blythburgh
Manor。 For did not their dead master's guilt cling to them； and would
they not also be held guilty of the murder of the King's officer； and
swing for it from the gallows？ So it came about that when at last
lights were brought Hugh's people found themselves alone。
〃The Frenchmen have fled！〃 cried Grey Dick。 〃Follow me； men；〃 and with
most of them he ran out and began to search the manor； till at length
they found a woman who told them that thirty minutes gone Acour and
all his following had ridden through the back gates and vanished at
full gallop into the darkness of the woods。
With these tidings； Dick returned to the chapel。
〃Master de Cressi；〃 said Sir Andrew when he had heard it； 〃back with
some of your people to Dunwich and raise the burgesses； warning them
that the King's wrath will be great if these traitors escape the land。
Send swift messengers to all the ports； discover where Acour rides and
follow him in force and if you come up with him； take him dead or
living。 Stop not to talk； man； begone！ Nay； bide here； Richard； and
those who rode with you to London； for Acour may return again and some
must be left to guard the lady Eve and your master； quick or dead。〃
De Cressi； his two sons and servants went； and presently were riding
for Dunwich faster than ever they rode before。 But； as it proved；
Acour was too swift for them。 When at length a messenger galloped into
Lynn； whither they learned that he had fled； it was to find that his
ship； which awaited him with sails hoisted； had cleared the port three
hours before； with a wind behind her which blew straight for Flanders。
〃Ah！〃 said Grey Dick when he heard the news； 〃this is what comes of
wasting arrows upon targets which should have been saved for traitors'
hearts！ With those three hours of daylight in hand we'd have ringed
the rogues in or run them down。 Well； the devil's will be done； he
does but spare his own till a better day。〃
But when the King heard the news he was very wroth； not with Hugh de
Cressi； but with the burgesses of Dunwich； whose Mayor； although he
was blameless； lost his office over the matter。 Nor was there any
other chosen afterward in his place； as those who read the records of
that ancient port may discover for themselves。
When Master de Cressi and his people were gone； having first searched
the great manor…house and found none in it save a few serving…men and
women； whom he swore to put to death if they disobeyed him； Grey Dick
raised the drawbridge。 Then； all being made safe； he set a watch upon
the walls and saw that there was wood in the iron cradle on the
topmost tower in case it should be needful to light the beacon and
bring aid。 But it was not； since the sun rose before any dared to draw
near those walls； and then those that came proved to be friendly folk
from Dunwich bearing the ill news that the Frenchmen were clean away。
About midnight the door of the chamber in which Sir Andrew knelt by a
bed whereon lay Hugh de Cressi opened and the tall Eve entered；
bearing a taper in her hand。 For now her mind had returned to her and
she knew all。
〃Is he dead； Father？〃 she asked in a small； strange voice； then； still
as any statue； awaited the answer that was more to her than life。
〃Nay； daughter。 Down on your knees and give thanks。 God； by the skill
