red eve-第38章

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de　Noyon。　Therefore　the　blood　of　this　de　la　Roche　is　on　his　head。　Yet
these　are　small　matters　of　private　conduct；　and　one　that　is　greater
overtops　them。　This　false　lord；　as　Sir　Edmund　Acour；　swore　fealty　to
Edward　of　England。　Yet　while　he　was　bound　by　that　sacred　oath　he
plotted　to　depose　Edward　and　to　set　up　on　his　throne　the　Duke　of
Normandy。

〃The　King　of　England　learned　of　that　plot　through　me；　and　gave　me
charge　to　kill　or　capture　the　traitor。　But　when　we　came　face　to　face
in　a　consecrated　church　where　I　thought　it　sacrilege　to　draw　sword；
he；　who　had　just　done　me　bitter　wrong；　stayed　not　to　answer　the　wrong。
He　slunk　away　into　the　darkness；　leaving　me　felled　by　a　treacherous
blow。　Thence　he　fled　to　France　and　stirred　up　war　against　his　liege
lord　under　the　Oriflamme　of　King　Philip。　Now　that　this　banner　is　in
the　dust　he　has　fled　again　to　Venice；　and　here；　as　I　have　heard；
broods　more　mischief。　Once；　when　after　the　sack　of　Caen　I　sent　him　my
challenge；　he　returned　to　me　an　insolent　answer　that　he　did　not　fight
with　merchants'　sonshe　who　could　take　mercy　from　the　hand　of　a
merchant's　son。

〃Now　that　for　deeds　done　a　King　has　made　me　knight；　and　now　that　this
King　under　his　seal　and　sign　has　named　me　his　champion；　in　your
presence；　Illustrious；　and　in　that　of　all　your　Court；　I　challenge
Cattrina　again　to　single　combat　to　the　death　with　lance　and　sword　and
dagger。　Yes；　and　I　name　him　coward　and　scullion　if　he　refuses　this；
King　Edward's　gage　and　mine；〃　and　drawing　the　gauntlet　from　his　left
hand；　Hugh　cast　it　clattering　to　the　marble　floor　at　de　Noyon's　feet。

A　babel　of　talk　broke　out　in　the　great　hall；　and　with　it　some　/vivas/
and　clapping　of　hands；　for　Hugh　had　spoken　boldly　and　well；　moreover；
the　spectators　read　truth　in　his　grey　eyes。　A　dark　figure　in　priest's
robeit　was　that　of　Father　Nicholas；　the　secretary　who　had　brewed　Red
Eve's　potionglided　up　to　Cattrina　and　whispered　swiftly　in　his　ear。
Then　the　Doge　lifted　his　hand　and　there　was　silence。

〃My　lord　of　Cattrina；〃　he　said；　〃Sir　Hugh　de　Cressi；　speaking　as　the
champion　of　our　ally；　the　King　of　England；　has　challenged　you　to
single　combat　/？outrance/。　What　say　you？〃

〃I；　Illustrious？〃　he　answered　in　his　rich　voice；　drawling　out　his
words　like　one　who　is　weary。　〃Oh；　of　course；　I　say　that　if　yon　brawler
wishes　to　find　a　grave　in　fair　Venice；　which　is　more　than　he　deserves；
I　am　not　the　man　to　thwart　him；　seeing　that　his　cut…throat　King〃

〃As　the　ambassador　of　that　King　I　protest；〃　broke　in　Sir　Geoffrey。　〃It
is　an　insult　that　such　a　word　should　be　used　before　me。〃

〃I　accept　the　protest　of　his　Excellency；　who　forgot　his　noble
presence；〃　replied　Cattrina　bowing　back。　〃Seeing　that　his　King；　who　is
not　a　cut…throat〃here　a　titter　of　laughter　went　through　the　company；
though　it　was　evident　from　the　frown　upon　his　face　that　the　Doge　liked
the　jest　ill〃has　chosen　to　make　a　knight　of　this　de　Cressi。　Or　so　he
says；　which　will　show　you；　friends　all；　how　hard　it　must　be　to　find
gentlemen　in　England。〃

Again　the　company　tittered；　though　Dick's　grey　face　turned　scarlet　and
he　bit　upon　his　pale　lip　until　the　blood　ran。

〃As　you　accept　the　challenge；〃　broke　in　the　Doge　shortly；　〃cease　from
gibes；　my　lord；　which　more　befit　an　angry　woman's　mouth　than　that　of
one　whose　life　is　about　to　be　put　to　hazard；　and　take　up　the　gage　of
his　Grace　of　England。〃

Cattrina　looked　round　and　bade　a　page　who　waited　on　his　person　obey
the　Doge's　command；　saying：

〃Your　pardon；　most　Illustrious；　if　I　do　not　touch　that　glove　myself；
as　it　seems　somewhat　foul。　I　think　it　must　have　served　its　owner　in
his　useful　labours　at　the　dyer's　vat　before　his　master　made　him
noble。〃

Now　it　was　Hugh's　turn　to　colour；　but　when　he　understood　the　insult
Grey　Dick　could　contain　himself　no　more。

〃Ay；　Sir　Cheat　and　Traitor；〃　he　said　in　his　hissing　voice。　〃The　vat　in
which　it　has　been　dipped　was　that　of　the　life…blood　of　your　dupe；　Sir
Pierre　de　la　Roche；　and　of　many　a　nobler　Norman。　Oh；　did　we　not　stand
where　we　do　I'd　thrust　it　down　your　false　throat；　and　with　it　twist
out　your　slanderous　tongue。〃

〃Peace；　peace！〃　cried　the　Doge；　while　those　present　who　understood
English　translated　Dick's　wild　words　to　their　neighbours；　and　Cattrina
laughed　mockingly　at　the　success　of　his　sneer。　〃Have　I　not　said　that
such　words　are　unseemly？　Ah！　I　thought　it；　well；　my　lord；　you　have
brought　it　on　yourself。〃

For　while　he　spoke；　the　page；　a　mincing　young　man　tied　up　with　bows
and　ribbon　like　a　woman；　had　lifted　the　glove。　Holding　it　between　his
thumb　and　forefinger；　he　returned　it　to　Hugh　with　a　low；　mock　bow；
being　careful　as　he　did　so；　as　all　might　see；　to　tread　upon　Dick's
foot　and　hustle　him。　Next　moment　two　things　happened。　The　first　was
that；　dropping　his　cased　bow；　Grey　Dick　seized　that　young　in　his　iron
grip　and　hurled　him　into　the　air　so　that　he　fell　heavily　on　the　marble
floor　and　lay　there　stunned；　the　blood　running　from　his　nose　and
mouth。　The　second　was　that；　seizing　his　gauntlet；　Hugh　strode　to　where
Cattrina　stood；　and　struck　him　with　it　across　the　face；　saying：

〃Let　your　lips　kiss　what　your　fingers　are　too　fine　to　touch。〃

With　an　oath　Cattrina　drew　his　sword　and　out　flashed　Hugh's　in　answer；
as　he　cried：

〃Ay；　here　and　now　if　you　will！　Here　and　now！〃

Then　the　Guard　rushed　in　and　forced　them　apart。

〃Is　this　a　place　for　brawling？〃　cried　Dandolo　in　wrath；　adding：　〃Yet　I
cannot　blame　the　Englishmen　overmuch；　seeing　that　they　were　sore
affronted；　as　I　saw　with　my　eyes　and　heard　with　my　ears。　Be　silent；　my
lord　of　Cattrina。　After　your　fashion　you　make　trouble　at　my　Court。　And
hearken　allblood　so　hot　had　best　be　quickly　cooled　lest　one　or
other　of　these　knights　should　take　a　fever。　Moreover；　the　noble
Cattrina　has　but　to…day　asked　my　leave　to　ride　from　Venice　to…morrow；
having　urgent　business　at　Avignon　at　the　Court　of　Pope　Clement。　So　I
decree　that　this　combat　/？outrance/　shall　take　place　in　our　presence
on　the　Campo　del　Marte　to…morrow；　three　hours　before　noon；　ere　the　sun
grows　too　hot。　To　all　the　details　of　the　combat　our　heralds　will
attend　forthwith。　Officer；　take　soldiers　and　escort　the　Ambassador　and
the　Champion　of　his　Grace　of　England；　together　with　this　Captain　of
Archers；　back　to　their　own　door。　Set　guards　there　and　see　that　none
molest　them　by　word　or　deed　under　pain　of　fine　and　strait
imprisonment。　Sir　Geoffrey　Carleon；　your　requests　are　granted；　be
pleased　to　write　it　to　the　most　puissant　Edward；　whom　you　serve；　and
for　this　time　fare　you　well。　Why；　what　is　it；　Captain　Ambrosio？〃　he
added　irritably；　addressing　a　raw…boned；　lantern…jawed　giant　of　a　man
clad　in　the　splendid　uniform　of　the　Guard　who　stepped　before　his
throne　and　saluted。

〃Most　Illustrious；〃　said　Ambrosio；　in　bad；　guttural　Italian；　〃my
mother　was　a　Swiss。〃

〃Then　congratulations　to　the　Swiss；　Ambrosio；　but　what　of　it？〃

〃Very　Illustrious；〃　replied　the　captain　in　his　hollow　voice；　〃the
Swiss　are　brave　and　do　not　swallow　insults。　That　lad　whom　the
Englishman　kicked；　or　smote；　or　tossed　like　a　bull；〃　and　he　pointed　to
the　poor　page；　who；　still　senseless；　was　being　carried　from　the　hall；
〃is　my　youngest　brother；　who　resembles　our　Venetian　father　somewhat
more　than　I　do。〃

〃We　see　it；　we　see　it。　Indeed　are　you　sure　that　the　father　was〃
and　the　Doge　checked　himself。　〃The　point；　captain；　we　would　dine。〃

〃Illustrious；　I　would　avenge　my　brother　and　myself　on　the　Englishman；
whom　I　will　beat　to　a　jelly；〃　said　the　giant。　〃I　crave　leave　to　fight
him　to…morrow　when　the　lord　Cattrina　fights　his　master；〃　and　advancing
toward　Grey　Dick　he　made　as　though　he　would　pull　his　nose。

〃What　is　it　he　wants？〃　asked　Grey　Dick；　staring　up　at　the　great　fellow
with　a　look　in　his　eyes　that　caused　Ambrosio　to　cease　flourishing　his
fists。

The　challenge　was　translated　to　him；　and　its　reason。　〃Oh；〃　said　Dick；
〃tell　him　I　am　much　obliged　and　that　I　will　fight　him　with　the　bow　or
with　the　axe　and　dagger；　or　with　all　three。　Then　we　will　see　whether
he　beats　me　to　a　jelly；　or　whether　I　cut　him　into　collops；　who；　as　I
think；　needs　shortening。〃

Now　the　Captain　Ambrosio　consulted　with　his　friends；　who　with　much
earnestness　prayed　him　h