red eve-第28章
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case； drawn by skilled clerks and testified to by many witnesses； has
gone forward already to his Holiness the Pope； of which statement true
copies have been sent to the King and to the Bishops of Norwich and of
Canterbury。 Yet be warned that in such matters the law ecclesiastic
moves but slowly； and then only when its wheels are greased with
gold。〃
〃Well；〃 answered Hugh with a fierce laugh； 〃there remains another law
which moves more swiftly and its wheels are greased with vengeance；
the law of the sword。 If you are married； Eve； I swear that before
very long you shall be widowed or I dead。 I'll not let de Noyon slip a
second time even if he stands before the holiest altar in
Christendom。〃
〃I'd have killed him in the chapel yonder；〃 muttered Grey Dick； who
had entered with his master's food and not been sent away。 〃Only；〃 he
added looking reproachfully at Sir Andrew； 〃my hand was stayed by a
certain holy priest's command to which； alack； I listened。〃
〃And did well to listen； man； since otherwise by now you would be
excommunicate。〃
〃I could mock at that；〃 said Dick sullenly； 〃who make confession in my
own way； and do not wish to be married； and care not the worth of a
horseshoe nail how and where I am buried； provided those I hate are
buried first。〃
〃Richard Archer； graceless wight that you are；〃 said Sir Andrew； 〃I
say you stand in danger of your soul。〃
〃Ay； Father； and so the Frenchman； Acour； stood in danger of his body。
But you saved it； so perhaps if there is need at the last； you will do
as much for my soul。 If not it must take its chance；〃 and snatching at
the dish…cover angrily； he turned and left the chamber。
〃Well；〃 commented Sir Andrew； shaking his head sadly； 〃if the fellow's
heart is hard it is honest； so may he be forgiven who has something to
forgive like the rest of us。 Now hearken to me； son and daughter。
Wrong； grievous and dreadful； has been done to you both。 Yet； until
death or the Church levels it； a wall that you may not climb stands
between you； and when you meet it must be as friendsno more。〃
〃Now I begin to wish that I had learned in Grey Dick's school；〃 said
Hugh。 But whatever she thought； Eve set her lips and said nothing。
CHAPTER IX
CRECY FIELD
It was Saturday； the 26th of August； in the year 1346。 The harassed
English hostbut a little host； after all； retreating for its life
from Parishad forced the passage of the Somme by the ford which a
forgotten traitor； Gobin Agache by name； revealed to them。 Now it
stood at bay upon the plain of Crecy； there to conquer or to die。
〃Will the French fight to…day； what think you？〃 asked Hugh of Grey
Dick； who had just descended from an apple…tree which grew in the
garden of a burnt…out cottage。 Here he had been engaged on the twofold
business of surveying the disposition of the English army and in
gathering a pocketful of fruit which remained upon the tree's topmost
boughs。
〃I think that these are very good apples；〃 answered Dick； speaking
with his mouth full。 〃Eat while you get the chance； master； for； who
knows； the next you set your teeth in may be of the kind that grew
upon the Tree of Life in a very old garden；〃 and he handed him two of
the best。 Then he turned to certain archers； who clustered round with
outstretched hands； saying： 〃Why should I give you my apples； fellows；
seeing that you were too lazy to climb and get them for yourselves？
None of you ever gave me anything when I was hungry； after the sack of
Caen； in which my master； being squeamish； would take no part。
Therefore I went to bed supperless； because； as I remember you said； I
had not earned it。 Still； as I don't want to fight the French with a
bellyache； go scramble for them。〃
Then； with a quick motion； he flung the apples to a distance； all save
one； which he presented to a tall man who stood near； adding：
〃Take this； Jack Green； in token of fellowship； since I have nothing
else to offer you。 I beat you at Windsor； didn't I； when we shot a
match before the King？ Now show your skill and beat me and I'll say
'thank you。' Keep count of your arrows shot； Jack； and I'll keep count
of mine； and when the battle is over； he who has grassed most
Frenchmen shall be called the better man。〃
〃Then I'm that already； lad；〃 answered the great yeoman with a grin as
he set his teeth in the apple。 〃For； look you； having served at Court
I've learned how to lie； and shall swear I never wasted shaft； whereas
you； being country born； may own to a miss or two for shame's sake。
Or； likelier still； those French will have one or both of us in their
bag。 If all tales are true； there is such a countless host of them
that we few English shall not see the sky for arrows。〃
Dick shrugged his shoulders and was about to answer when suddenly a
sound of shouting deep and glad rose from the serried companies upon
their left。 Then the voice of an officer was heard calling：
〃Line！ Line！ The King comes！〃
Another minute and over the crest of a little rise appeared Edward of
England clad in full armour。 He wore a surtout embroidered with the
arms of England and France； but his helm hung at his saddle…bow that
all might see his face。 He was mounted； not on his war steed； but on a
small； white； ambling palfrey； and in his hand he bore a short baton。
With him came two marshalls； gaily dressed； and a slim young man clad
from head to foot in plain black armour； and wearing a great ruby in
his helm； whom all knew for Edward； Prince of Wales。
On he rode； acknowledging the cheering of his soldiers with smiles and
courtly bows； till at length he pulled rein just in front of the
triple line of archers； among whom were mingled some knights and men…
at…arms； for the order of battle was not yet fully set。 Just then； on
the plain beneath； riding from out the shelter of some trees and； as
they thought； beyond the reach of arrows； appeared four splendid
French knights； and with them a few squires。 There they halted； taking
stock； it would seem； of the disposition of the English army。
〃Who are those that wear such fine feathers？〃 asked the King。
〃One is the Lord of Bazeilles；〃 answered a marshall。 〃I can see the
monk upon his crest； but the blazons of the others I cannot read。 They
spy upon us； Sire； may we sally out and take them？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered Edward； 〃their horses are fresher than ours； let them
go； for pray God we shall see them closer soon。〃
So the French knights； having stared their full； turned and rode away
slowly。 But one of their squires did otherwise。 Dismounting from his
horse； which he left with another squire to hold； he ran forward a few
paces to the crest of a little knoll。 Thence he made gestures of
contempt and scorn toward the English army； as he did so shouting foul
words； of which a few floated to them in the stillness。
〃Now；〃 said Edward； 〃if I had an archer who could reach that varlet；
I'll swear that his name should not be forgotten in England。 But alas！
it may not be； for none cam make an arrow fly true so far。〃
Instantly Grey Dick stepped forward。
〃Sire； may I try？〃 he asked； stringing his great black bow as he
spoke。
〃Who are you？〃 said the King； 〃who seem to have been rolled in ashes
and wear my own gold arrow in your cap？ Ah！ I remember； the Suffolk
man who showed us all how to shoot at Windsor； he who is called Grey
Dick。 Yes； try； Grey Dick； try； if you think that you can reach so
far。 Yet for the honour of St。 George； man； do not miss； for all the
host will see Fate riding on your shaft。〃
For one moment Dick hesitated。 Such awful words seemed to shake even
his iron nerve。
〃I've seen you do as much； Dick；〃 said the quiet voice of Hugh de
Cressi behind him。 〃Still； judge you。〃
Then Dick ground his heels into the turf and laid his weight against
the bow。 While all men watched breathless； he drew it to an arc； he
drew it till the string was level with his ear。 He loosed； then；
slewing round； straightened himself and stared down at the earth。 As
he said afterward； he feared to watch that arrow。
Away it sped while all men gazed。 High； high it flew； the sunlight
glinting on its
