red eve-第50章
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been thrown under a fixed bench; whence one leg projected; which; as
they could see at once; was crushed and broken。 They drew him out as
gently as they could and gave him water to drink; whereof; mercifully
for them all; since by now they were utterly parched with thirst; they
had discovered a large silver pitcher full; standing in the corner of
a little ante…chamber to the tribune。 It was half hidden with
fragments of fine dresses and even jewels torn from the persons of the
lords and ladies。
〃I thank you; friends;〃 he said faintly。 〃I prayed them to keep
seated; but they went mad and would not listen。 Those behind trod down
those in front; till that doorway was choked and I was hurled beneath
the bench。 Oh; it was terrible to hear them dying about me and to know
that soon I must follow! This; had it not been for you; I should have
done; for my leg is crushed and there was no air。〃
Then; having drunk and drunk until even their raging thirst was
satisfied; they found a plank。 Laying Sir Geoffrey on it; they
departed from that human shambles; whence the piteous cries of those
still imprisoned there; whom they could not reach; pursued them
horribly。
Thus; slowly enough; for there were but three of them; two hampered by
their mail; they bore Sir Geoffrey across the Place of Arms。 Save for
the dead and dying; and some ghoul…like knaves who plundered them; by
this time it was almost deserted。
Indeed; a large band of these wretches; who had emerged like wolves
from their lairs in the lowest quarters of the great city; catching
sight of the gold chain Sir Geoffrey wore; ran up with drawn daggers
to kill and rob them。
Seeing them come Grey Dick slipped the black bow from its case and
sent an arrow singing through the heart of the one…eyed villain who
captained them。 Thereon the rest left him where he fell and ran off to
steal and slay elsewhere。 Then without a word Dick unstrung the bow
and once more laid hold of an end of the plank。
They came to the mouth of that street where the bravoes had waylaid
them on the previous night; only to find that they could not pass this
way。 Here most of the houses were thrown down; and from their ruins
rose smoke and the hideous screams of those who perished。 It was this
part of Venice; the home of the poorer folk; which suffered most from
the earthquake; that had scarcely touched many of the finer quarters。
Still; it was reckoned afterward that in all it took a toll of nearly
ten thousand lives。
Turning from this street; they made their way to the banks of a great
canal that here ran into the harbour; that on which they had been
rowed to the Place of Arms。 Here by good luck they found a small boat
floating keep uppermost; for it had been overturned by the number of
people who crowded into it。 This boat they righted with much toil and
discovered within it a drowned lady; also an oar caught beneath the
seat。 After this their dreadful journey was easy; at least by
comparison。 For now all the gloom had rolled away; the sun shone out
and a fresh and pleasant wind blew from the sea toward the land。
So; at last; passing many sad and strange scenes that need not be
described; they came safely to the steps of the ambassador's beautiful
house which was quite uninjured。 Here they found several of his
servants wringing their hands and weeping; for word had been brought
to them that he was dead。 Also in the hall they were met by another
woe; for there on a couch lay stretched the Lady Carleon smitten with
some dread sickness which caused blood to flow from her mouth and
ears。 A physician was bending over her; for by good fortune one had
been found。
Sir Geoffrey asked him what ailed his wife。 He answered that he did
not know; having never seen the like till that morning; when he had
been called in to attend three such cases in houses far apart; whereof
one died within ten minutes of being struck。
Just then Lady Carleon's senses returned; and opening her eyes she saw
Sir Geoffrey; whom they had laid down upon another couch close to her。
〃Oh; they told me that you were dead; husband;〃 she said; 〃crushed or
swallowed in the earthquake! But I thank God they lied。 Yet what ails
you; sweetheart; that you do not stand upon your feet?〃
〃Little; dear wife; little;〃 he answered in a cheerful voice。 〃My foot
is somewhat crushed; that is all。 Still 'tis true that had it not been
for this brave knight and his squire I must have lain where I was till
I perished。〃
Now Lady Carleon raised herself slightly and looked at Hugh and Dick;
who stood together; bewildered and overwhelmed。
〃Heaven's blessings be on your heads;〃 she exclaimed; 〃for these
Venetians would surely have left him to his doom。 Ah; I thought that
it was you who must die to…day; but now I know it is I; and perchance
my lord。 Physician;〃 she added after a pause; 〃trouble not with me;
for my hour has come; I feel it at my heart。 Tend my lord there; who;
unless this foul sickness takes him also; may yet be saved。〃
So they carried them both to their own large sleeping chamber on the
upper floor。 There the surgeon set Sir Geoffrey's broken bone
skilfully enough; though when he saw the state of the crushed limb; he
shook his head and said it would be best to cut it off。 This; however;
Sir Geoffrey would not suffer to be done。
〃It will kill me; I am sure; or if not; then the pest which that ship;
/Light of the East/; has brought here from Cyprus; will do its work on
me。 But I care nothing; for since you say that my wife must die I
would die with her and be at rest。〃
At sunset Lady Carleon died。 Ere she passed away she sent for Hugh and
Dick。 Her bed by her command had been moved to an open window; for she
seemed to crave air。 By it was placed that of Sir Geoffrey so that the
two of them could hold each other's hand。
〃I would die looking toward England; Sir Hugh;〃 she said; with a faint
smile; 〃though alas! I may not sleep in that churchyard on the Sussex
downs where I had hoped that I might lie at last。 Now; Sir Hugh; I
pray this of your Christian charity and by the English blood which
runs in us; that you will swear to me that you and your squire will
not leave my lord alone among these Southern folk; but that you will
bide with him and nurse him till he recovers or dies; as God may will。
Also that you will see me buried by the bones of my childthey will
tell you where。〃
〃Wife;〃 broke in Sir Geoffrey; 〃this knight is not of our kin。
Doubtless he has business elsewhere。 How can he bide with me here;
mayhap for weeks?〃
But Lady Carleon; who could speak no more; only looked at Hugh; who
answered:
〃Fear nothing。 Here we will stay until he recoversunless;〃 he added;
〃we ourselves should die。〃
She smiled at him gratefully; then turned her face toward Sir Geoffrey
and pressed his hand。 So presently she passed away; the tears running
from her faded eyes。
When it was over and the women had covered her; Hugh and Dick left the
room; for they could bear no more。
〃I have seen sad sights;〃 said Hugh; with something like a sob; 〃but
never before one so sad。〃
〃Ay;〃 answered Dick; 〃that of the wounded dying on Crecy field was a
May Day revel compared to this; though it is but one old woman who has
gone。 Oh; how heavily they parted who have dwelt together these forty
years! And 'twas my careless tongue this morning that foretold it as a
jest!〃
In the hall they met the physician; who rushed wild…eyed through the
doorway to ask how his patients fared。
〃Ah!〃 he said to them in French when he knew。 〃Well; signors; that
noble lady has not gone alone。 I tell you that scores of whom I know
are already dead in Venice; swept off by this swift and horrible
plague。 Death and all his angels stalk through the city。 They say that
he himself appeared last night; and this morning on the tilting ground
by the quay; and by God's mercyif He has any left for usI can well
believe it。 The Doge and his Council but now have issued a decree that
all who perish must be buried at once。 See to it; signors; lest the
officers come and bear her away to some common grave; from which her
rank will not protect her。〃
Then he went to visit Sir G