red eve-第39章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
think； needs shortening。〃
Now the Captain Ambrosio consulted with his friends； who with much
earnestness prayed him have nothing to do with arrows。 They pointed
out that there his bulk would put him at a disadvantage； especially in
dealing with an English archer who had an eye like a snake and a face
like that of death itself。
In short； one and all they recommended the battle…axe and the dagger
as his most appropriate weaponssince his adversary refused swords。
The battle…axe with which to knock him down； as he could easily do；
being so strong； and the dagger with which to finish him。
When this was explained to Grey Dick he assented to the proposal with
a kind of unholy joy that was almost alarming to those who saw it。
Moreover； as neither of them had gauntlets to throw down or pick up；
he stretched out his hand to seal the bargain； which； incautiously
enough； the huge； half…breed Swiss accepted。
Dick's grasp； indeed； was so firm and long that presently the giant
was observed first to move uneasily； secondly to begin to dance and
thirdly to shout out with pain。
〃What is the matter？〃 asked his friends。
〃The matter is；〃 he groaned； as Dick let go； 〃that this son of Satan
has a blacksmith's vise in place of a hand；〃 and he showed his great
fingers； from beneath the nails of which the blood was oozing。
His Venetian companions of the Guard looked at them； then they looked
at Grey Dick and gave him a wide berth。 Also Ambrosio said something
about having offered to fight a man and not a fiend。 But it was too
late to retract； for the Doge； taking； as was natural； no share in
this small matter； had already left his throne。
Then； escorted by Sir Geoffrey and the city Guards； Hugh and Grey Dick
passed through that splendid company away home to dinner； Dick
carrying his bow…case in one hand and the sack of armour which de
Noyon had not thought fit to claim in the other。
In the midst of dead silence； they departed； for now no one seemed to
find either of them a fit subject for jest。 Indeed there were some who
said； as they watched the pair pass the door； that Cattrina and the
giant would do well to consult a lawyer and a priest that night。
CHAPTER XII
THE MAN FROM THE EAST
In a great； cool room of his splendid Venetian palace； Sir Edmund
Acour； Seigneur of Cattrina sat in consultation with the priest
Nicholas。 Clearly he was ill at ease； his face and his quick；
impatient movements showed it。
〃You arrange badly；〃 he said in a voice quite devoid of its ordinary
melodious tones。 〃Everything goes wrong。 How is it you did not know
that this accursed Englishman and his Death's…head were coming here？
What is the use of a spy who never spies？ Man； they should have been
met upon the road； for who can be held answerable for what brigands
do？ Or； at the least； I might have started for Avignon two days
earlier。〃
〃Am I omnipotent； lord； that I should be held able to read the minds
of men in far countries and to follow their footsteps？〃 asked the
aggrieved Nicholas。 〃Still it might have been guessed that this
bulldog of a Briton would hang to your heels till you kick out his
brains or he pulls you down。 Bah！ the sight of that archer； who cannot
miss； always gives me a cold pain in the stomach； as though an arrow…
point were working through my vitals。 I pity yonder poor fool of a
Swiss to…morrow； for what chance has he against a fish…eyed wizard？〃
〃Ten thousand curses on the Swiss！〃 said Acour。 〃He thrust himself
into the affair and will deserve all he gets。 I pity myself。 You know
I am no coward； as not a few have learned before to…day； but I have
little luck against this Englishman。 I tell you that there at Crecy I
went down before him like a ninepin； and he spared my life。 My God！ he
spared my life； being a fool like all his breed。 And now the tale is
known against me and that of the changed armour； too。 Why could not de
la Roche die without speaking； the faithless hound whom I had fed so
well！ So； so； regrets are vain； de Cressi is here； and must be faced
or I be shamed。〃
〃You may be killed as well as shamed；〃 Nicholas suggested
unpleasantly。 〃It is certain that either you or that Englishman will
die to…morrow； since he's set for no fancy tilting with waving of
ladies' kerchiefs and tinsel crowns of victory； and so forth。 Merchant
bred or not； he is a sturdy fighter； as we all learned in France。
Moreover； his heart is full with wrong； and the man whose quarrel is
just is always to be feared。〃
〃A pest on you！〃 snarled Cattrina。 〃Have you the evil eye that you
then croak disaster in my ears？ Look you； priest； I must come through
this game unharmed。 Death is a companion I do not seek just yet； who
have too much to live forpower and wealth and high renown； if my
plans succeed； and as you should know； they are well laid。 Moreover；
there is that English girl； Red Eve； my wife； from whose sweet side
you made me flee。 I tell you； Nicholas； I burn for her and had rather
taste her hate than the love of any other woman on the earth。 Now；
too； the Pope has summoned me to Avignon； and her also； to lay our
causes before him。 Being bold； mayhap she will come； for his Holiness
has sent her safe…conduct under his own hand。 Nor has he mentioned
for I saw a copy of the briefthat the same business will take me to
Avignon about this time。 Well； if she comes she will not go away again
alone； the French roads are too rough for ladies to travel unescorted。
And if she does not come； at least our marriage will be declared valid
and I'll take her when and where I can； and her wealth with her； which
will be useful。〃
〃Only then； lord； you must not die； nor even be wounded； to…morrow。 It
is the Englishman who should die； for whatever the Pope may decree I
think that while de Cressi lives the slumbrous eyes of that Eve of
yours will find a way to charm you to a sleep that has no wakening。
She is not a fair…haired toy that weeps； forgets and at last grows
happy in her babe。 She's a woman to make men or break them。 Oh； when
her sense came back to her； for a flash she looked me cold yonder in
that English chapel； and it seemed to me that God's curse was in her
stare。〃
〃You've caught the terror； Nicholas； like so many just now in Venice。
Why； to…day I've not met a man or woman who is not afraid of
something； they know not whatsave the Englishman and his death's…
head。 I think 'tis the unwholesome air of this strange season； and all
the signs and omens we hear of on every side that conjure vapours to
the brain。〃
〃Yes； I've the terror；〃 said Nicholas with something like a groan。
〃Every sin I ever didand most of them have been for you； lordseems
to haunt my sleep。 Yes； and to walk with me when I wake； preaching woe
at me with fiery tongues that repentance or absolution cannot quench
or still。〃
〃Yet； Nicholas； I think that you must add one more to their count； or
a share of it； which should weigh light among so many。 Either I or de
Cressi must pack for our last journey； and if we meet face to face
to…morrow； how know I that it will be de Cressi？ Better far that we
should not meet。〃
〃Lord； lord； you cannot fly！ He is King Edward's champion； so
proclaimed before all whose names are written in the Golden Book of
Venice。 He would cry your shame in every Court； and so would they。
There's not a knight in Europe but would spit upon you as a dastard；
or a common wench but would turn you her back！ You cannot fly！〃
〃Nay； fool； but he can dieand before to…morrow。 What makes your
brain so dull； Nicholas？ It is not its wont。〃
〃Ah； I seenot flight； murder。 I had forgotten； it is not a usual
sauce to a banquet of honour even in Italy； and therefore； perhaps；
the safer to serve。 But how is it to be done？ Poison？ He is in
Carleon's house； Carleon has faithful servants。 Though perhaps a
basket of rare fruitsbut then he might not eat them； those
Englishmen live mostly on half…raw meat。 The signora would probably
eat them； and the others。〃
〃Nay； no more of your drugs； your skill in them is too well known。
Come； these men have been watched since they set foot in Venice。 Have
they offe
