red eve-第44章

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judge　of　the　breaking　strength　of　a　bow。　Whether　or　no　I　can　judge　of
the　flight　of　an　arrow　you　will　learn　hereafter。　But　that　this　one
flew　fast　and　far　cannot　be　doubted　sincedid　you　watchers　note　it？
its　speed　made　it　shine　like　fire。　This　is　caused　by　the　rubbing　of
the　air　when　aught　travels　through　it　very　quickly。　This　night　you
have　seen　a　meteor　glow　in　the　same　fashion；　only　because　the　air
fretted　it　in　its　passage。　In　the　East；　whence　I　come；　we　produce　fire
just　so。　And　now　let　us　be　going；　for　I　have　much　to　do　to…night；　and
would　look　upon　this　fair　Venice　ere　I　sleep。　I'll　lead　the　way；
having　seen　a　map　of　the　town　which　a　traveller　brought　to　the　East。　I
studied　it；　and　now　it　comes　back　to　my　mind。　Stay；　let　that　youth
give　me　his　garment；〃　and　he　pointed　to　David　Day；　who　wore　a　silk
cloak　like　the　others；　〃since　my　foreign　dress　might　excite　remark；　as
it　did　but　now。〃

In　a　moment　Day　had　stripped　himself　of　his　light　silk…hooded　gown；
and　in　another　moment　it　was　on　the　person　of　Murgh；　though　how　it　got
there；　when　they　came　to　think　of　it　afterward；　none　could　remember。
Still；　the　yellow　and　red　head…dress；　the　coal…black　silky　furs；　the
yellow　skirt；　the　gleaming　pearls；　all　vanished　beneath　it。　Nothing
remained　visible　except　the　white　fingerless　gloveswhy　were　they
fingerless；　and　what　lay　beneath　them？　Hugh　wonderedand　the　white
shoes。

Forward　they　went　across　the　Place　of　Arms；　past　the　timber　stand
ornamented　with　banners；　which　Murgh　stayed　to　contemplate　for　an
instant；　until　they　came　to　the　mouth　of　the　street　up　which　men　had
followed　them；　apparently　with　evil　intent。

〃Sir　Murgh；〃　said　Hugh；　stepping　forward；　〃you　had　best　let　me　and　my
companion　Grey　Dick　walk　first　down　this　place；　lest　you　should　come
to　harm。　When　we　passed　it　a　while　ago　we　thought　that　we　heard
robbers　behind　us；　and　in　Venice；　as　we　are　told；　such　men　use
knives。〃

〃Thank　you　for　your　warning；　Sir　Hugh；〃　and　even　beneath　the　shadow　of
the　silk　hood　Hugh　thought　that　he　saw　his　eyes　smile；　and　seeing；
remembered　all　the　folly　of　such　talk。

〃Yet　I'll　risk　these　robbers。　Do　you　two　and　the　lad　keep　behind　me；〃
he　added　in　a　sterner　voice。

So　they　advanced　down　the　narrow　street；　the　man　called　Murgh　going
first；　Hugh；　Grey　Dick　and　the　lad　following　meekly　behind　him。　As
they　entered　its　shadows　a　low　whistle　sounded；　but　nothing　happened
for　a　while。　When　they　had　traversed　about　half　its　length；　however；
men；　five　or　six　of　them　in　all；　darted　out　of　the　gloom　of　a　gateway
and　rushed　at　them。　The　faint　light　showed　that　they　were　masked　and
gleamed　upon　the　blue　steel　of　the　daggers　in　their　hands。　Two　of
these　men　struck　at　Murgh　with　their　knives；　while　the　others　tried　to
pass　him；　doubtless　to　attack　his　companions；　but　failed。　Why　they
failed　Hugh　and　Dick　never　knew。　All　they　saw　was　that　Murgh　stretched
out　his　white…gloved　hands；　and　they　fell　back。

The　men　who　had　struck　at　him　fell　back　also；　their　daggers　dropping
to　the　ground；　and　fled　away；　followed　by　their　companions；　all　except
one　whom　Murgh　had　seized。　Hugh　noted　that　he　was　a　tall；　thin　fellow；
and　that；　unlike　the　rest；　he　had　drawn　no　weapon；　although　it　was　at
his　signal　that　the　other　bravoes　had　rushed　on。　This　man　Murgh　seemed
to　hold　with　one　hand　while　with　the　other　he　ripped　the　mask　off　his
face；　turning　him　so　that　the　light　shone　on　him。

Hugh　and　Dick　saw　the　face　and　knew　it　for　that　of　the　priest　who　had
accompanied　Acour　to　England。　It　was　he　who　had　drugged　Red　Eve　and
read　the　mass　of　marriage　over　her　while　she　was　drugged。

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Murgh　in　his　light；　cold　voice。　〃By　your　shaven
head　a　priest；　I　thinkone　who　serves　some　God　of　love　and　mercy。　And
yet　you　come　upon　this　ill　errand　as　a　captain　of　assassins。　Why　do
you　seek　to　do　murder；　O　Priest　of　the　God　of　mercy？〃

Now　some　power　seemed　to　drag　the　answer　from　Father　Nicholas。

〃Because　I　must；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　sold　myself　and　must　pay　the　price。
Step　leads　to　step；　and　he　who　runs　may　not　stop　upon　them。〃

〃No；　priest　Nicholas；　since　ever　they　grow　more　narrow　and　more　steep。
Yet　at　the　foot　of　them　is　the　dark　abyss；　and；　Murderer　Nicholas；　you
have　reached　the　last　of　all　your　steps。　Look　at　me！〃　and　with　one
hand　he　threw　back　the　hood。

Next　instant　they　saw　Nicholas　rush　staggering　down　the　street；
screaming　with　terror　as　he　went。　Then；　as　all　the　bravoes　had　gone；
they　continued　their　march；　filled　with　reflections；　till　they　came　to
the　little　landing…stage　where　they　had　left　the　boat。　It　was　still
there　though　the　boatman　had　gone。

〃Let　us　borrow　this　boat；〃　said　Murgh。　〃As　from　my　study　of　the　map　I
know　these　water…paths；　I　will　be　steersman　and　that　tongue…tied　lad
shall　row　and　tell　me　if　I　go　wrong。　First　I　will　take　you　to　the
house　where　I　think　you　said　you　lodged；　and　thence　to　go　seek　friends
of　my　own　in　this　city　who　will　show　me　hospitality。〃

They　glided　on　down　the　long　canals　in　utter　silence　that　was　broken
only　by　the　soft　dipping　of　the　oars。　The　night　was　somewhat　cooler
now；　for　the　bursting　of　the　great　meteor　seemed　to　have　cleared　the
air。　Or　perhaps　the　gentle　breeze　that　had　sprung　up；　blowing　from　the
open　sea；　tempered　its　stifling　heat。

So　it　came　about　that　although　it　grew　late　many　people　were　gathered
on　the　/rivas/　or　on　the　balconies　of　the　fine　houses　which　they
passed；　for　the　most　part　doubtless　discussing　the　travelling　star
that　had　been　seen　in　the　sky。　Or　perhaps　they　had　already　heard
rumours　of　the　strange　visitor　who　had　come　to　Venice；　although；
however　fast　such　news　may　fly；　this　seemed　scarcely　probable。　At　the
least　there　they　were；　men　and　women；　talking　earnestly　together；　and
about　them　the　three　Englishmen　noted　a　strange　thing。

As　their　boat　slipped　by；　some　influence　seemed　to　pass　from　it　to　the
minds　of　all　these　people。　Their　talk　died　out；　and　was　succeeded　by　a
morne　and　heavy　silence。　They　looked　at　it　as　though　wondering　why　a
sight　so　usual　should　draw　their　eyes。　Then　after　a　few　irresolute
moments　the　groups　on　the　footpaths　separated　and　went　their　ways
without　bidding　each　other　good　night。　As　they　went　many　of　them　made
the　sign　with　their　fingers　that　these　Italians　believed　could　avert
evil；　which　gave　them　the　appearance　of　all　pointing　at　the　boat　or
its　occupants。　Those　in　the　balconies　did　the　same　thing　and
disappeared　through　the　open　window…places。

More　than　any　of　the　wonderful　things　that　he　had　done；　perhaps；　this
effect　of　the　Eastern　stranger's　presence　struck　terror　and　foreboding
to　Hugh's　heart。

At　length　they　came　to　the　end　of　that　little　street　where　they　had
hired　the　boat；　for；　although　none　had　told　him　the　way；　thither　their
dread　steersman　brought　them　without　fault。　The　lad　David　laid　down
his　oars　and　mounted　the　steps　that　led　to　the　street；　which　was　quite
deserted；　even　the　bordering　houses　being　in　darkness。

〃Hugh　de　Cressi　and　Richard　the　Fatherless；〃　said　Murgh；　〃you　have
seen　wonderful　things　this　night　and　made　a　strange　friend；　as　you　may
think　by　chance；　although　truly　in　all　the　wide　universe　there　is　no
room　for　such　a　thing　as　chance。　Now　my　counsel　to　you　and　your
companion　is　that　you　speak　no　word　of　these　matters　lest　you　should
be　set　upon　as　wizards。　We　part；　but　we　shall　meet　again　twice　more；
and　after　many　years　a　third　time；　but　that　third　meeting　do　not　seek；
for　it　will　be　when　the　last　grains　of　sand　are　running　from　the
glass。　Also　you　may　see　me　at　other　times；　but　if　so；　unless　I　speak
to　you；　do　not　speak　to　me。　Now　go　your　ways；　fearing　nothing。　However
great　may　seem　your　peril；　I　say　to　youfear　nothing。　Soon　you　will
hear　ill　things　spoken　of　me；　yet〃and　here　a　touch　of　human
wistfulness　came　into　his　inhuman　voice〃I　pray　you　believe　them　not。
When　I　am　named　Murgh　the　Fiend　and　Murgh　the　Sword；　then　think　of　me
as　Murgh　the　Helper。　What　I　do　is　decreed　by　That　which　is　greater
than　I；　and　if　you　could　understand　it；　leads　by　terrible　ways　to　a
goal　of　good；　as　all　things　do。　Richard　the　Archer；　I　will　answer　the
riddle　that　you　asked　yourself　upon　the　ship　at　Calais。　The　Stren