red eve-第52章

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they　buried　in　three　large　iron　boxes　beneath　the　flagstones　of　the
cellar；　the　safest　place　that　they　could　find。　Having　thrown　the
excavated　earth　into　the　canal　under　cover　of　the　dark；　they　replaced
these　stones　and　strewed　dust　over　them。

Wondering　whether　it　would　ever　be　their　lot　to　look　upon　these　chests
and　their　contents　again；　they　left　the　cellar；　to　find　the　old　woman
knocking　at　the　back　door　of　the　house；　whither　she　had　returned；
frightened　by　the　sights　and　sounds　in　the　city。　They　bade　her　bring
them　food；　which　they　needed　much　who　had　laboured　so　hard　on　that
sorrowful　day；　and　after　they　had　eaten　took　counsel　together。

〃Seeing　that　all　three　of　us　are　still　in　health；　as　if　there　is
anything　in　the　promises　of　Murgh　we　should　remain；　is　it　not　time；
master；〃　asked　Grey　Dick；　〃that　we　left　this　accursed　Venice？　Now　that
Sir　Geoffrey　is　gone；　there　is　naught　to　keep　us　here。〃

〃One　thing　I　have　to　do　first；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃and　it　is　to　learn
whether　Sir　Edmund　Acour；　lord　of　Cattrina；　is　dead　or　living；　and　if
living　where　he　hides　himself　away。　While　Sir　Geoffrey　lay　dying　we
could　not　leave　him　to　make　search；　but　now　it　is　otherwise。〃

〃Ay；　master；　though　I　think　you'll　find　the　task　hard　in　this　hive　of
pestilence　and　confusion。〃

〃I　have　heard　that　the　plague　is　at　work　in　Cattrina's　palace；〃　broke
in　David；　〃but　when　I　asked　whether　he　were　there　or　no；　none　could
tell　me。　That　is　not　a　house　where　you'll　be　welcomed；　Sir　Hugh。〃

〃Still　I　will　make　bold　to　knock　at　his　doors　to…morrow；〃　answered
Hugh。　〃Now　let　us　seek　what　we　all　needsleep。〃

So　on　the　following　morning　shortly　after　sunrise　Hugh　and　Grey　Dick；
guided　by　David；　took　boat　and　rowed　through　most　fearful　scenes　and
sounds　to　the　Palazzo　Cattrina；　a　splendid　but　somewhat　dilapidated
building　situated　in　a　part　of　the　city　that；　like　itself；　had　seen
more　prosperous　times。　The　great　doors　of　the　place　set　in　a　marble
archway　stood　half　open。　Over　them　were　cut　the　cognizance　of　the
floating　swan；　and　beneath；　in　letters　of　faded　gold；　the　titles　of
Acour；　de　Noyon；　and　Cattrina。　No　wonder　they　were　open；　since　the
porter's　lodge　was　occupied　only　by　a　grisly　corpse　that　lay　rotting
on　the　floor；　a　heavy　key　in　its　hand。　The　courtyard　beyond　was　empty
and　so；　save　for　a　dead　horse；　were　the　stables　to　the　right。　Passing
up　the　steps　of　the　hall　that　also　stood　open；　they　entered。

Here　the　place　was　in　confusion；　as　though　those　who　dwelt　there　had
left　in　haste。　The　mouldering　remains　of　a　meal　lay　on　the　broad　oak
table；　a　great　dower…chest　inlaid　with　ivory；　but　half　filled　with
arms　and　armour；　stood　wide。　A　silver　crucifix　that　had　hung　above　was
torn　down　and　cast　upon　the　floor；　perchance　by　thieves　who　had　found
it　too　heavy　to　bear　away。　The　earthquake　had　thrown　over　a　carved
cabinet　and　some　bowls　of　glazed　ware　that　stood　upon　it。　These　lay
about　shattered　amidst　shields　and　swords　thrown　from　the　walls；　where
pictures　of　saints　or　perchance　of　dead　Cattrinas　hung　all　awry。　In
short；　if　an　army　had　sacked　it　this　stately　hall　could　scarce　have
seemed　more　ruined。

Hugh　and　Dick　crossed　it　to　a　stairway　of　chestnut　wood　whereof　every
newel…post　was　surmounted　by　the　crest　of　a　swan；　and　searched　the
saloons　above；　where　also　there　was　wreck　and　ruin。　Then；　still
mounting　the　stair；　they　came　to　the　bed…chambers。　From　one　of　these
they　retreated　hastily；　since　on　entering　it　hundreds　of　flies　buzzing
in　a　corner　advised　them　that　something　lay　there　which　they　did　not
wish　to　see。

〃Let　us　be　going。　I　grow　sick；〃　exclaimed　Hugh。

But　Dick；　who　had　the　ears　of　a　fox；　held　up　his　hand　and　said：

〃Hark！　I　hear　a　voice。〃

Following　the　sound；　he　led　his　master　down　two　long　corridors　that
ended　in　a　chapel。　There；　lying　before　the　altar；　they　found　a　man
clad　in　a　filthy　priest's　robe；　a　dying　man　who　still　had　the　strength
to　cry　for　help　or　mercy；　although　in　truth　he　was　wasted　to　a
skeleton；　since　the　plague　which　had　taken　him　was　of　the　most
lingering　sort。　Indeed；　little　seemed　to　be　left　of　him　save　his
rolling　eyes；　prominent　nose　and　high　cheekbones　covered　with　yellow
parchment　that　had　been　skin；　and　a　stubbly　growth　of　unshaven　hair。

Dick　scanned　him。　Dick；　who　never　forgot　a　face；　then　stepped　forward
and　said：

〃So　once　more　we　meet　in　a　chapel；　Father　Nicholas。　Say；　how　has　it
fared　with　you　since　you　fled　through　the　chancel　door　of　that　at
Blythburgh　Manor？　No；　I　forgot；　that　was　not　the　last　time　we　met。　A
man　in　a　yellow　cap　ripped　off　your　mask　in　a　by…street　near　the　Place
of　Arms　one　night　and　said　something　which　it　did　not　please　you　to
hear。〃

〃Water！〃　moaned　Nicholas。　〃For　Christ's　sake　give　me　water！〃

〃Why　should　I　give　you　water　in　payment　for　your　midnight　steel　yonder
in　the　narrow　street？　What　kind　of　water　was　it　that　you　gave　Red　Eve
far　away　at　Blythburgh　town？〃　asked　Dick　in　his　hissing　voice　which
sounded　like　that　of　an　angry　snake。

But　Hugh；　who　could　bear　no　more　of　it；　ran　down　to　the　courtyard；
where　he　had　seen　a　pitcher　standing　by　a　well；　and　brought　water。

〃Thank　God　that　you　have　come　again；〃　said　the　wretched　priest；　as　he
snatched　at　it；　〃for　I　cannot　bear　to　die　with　this　white…faced　devil
glaring　at　me；〃　and　he　pointed　to　Grey　Dick；　who　leaned　against　the
chancel　wall；　his　arms　folded　on　his　breast；　smiling　coldly。

Then　he　drank　greedily；　Hugh　holding　the　pitcher　to　his　lips；　for　his
wasted　arms　could　not　bear　its　weight。

〃Now；〃　said　Hugh；　when　his　thirst　was　satisfied；　〃tell　me；　where　is
your　master；　Cattrina？〃

〃God　or　the　fiend　can　say　alone。　When　he　found　that　I　was　smitten　with
the　plague　he　left　me　to　perish；　as　did　the　others。〃

〃And　as　we　shall　do　unless　you　tell　me　whither　my　enemy　has　gone；〃　and
Hugh　made　as　though　to　leave　the　place。

The　priest　clutched　at　him　with　his　filthy；　claw…like　hand。

〃For　Christ's　sake　do　not　desert　me；〃　he　moaned。　〃Let　one　Christian
soul　be　near　me　at　the　last　ere　the　curse　of　that　wizard　with　the
yellow　cap　is　fulfilled　on　me。　For　the　sake　of　Jesus；　stay！　I'll　tell
all　I　know。〃

〃Speak　then；　and　be　swift。　You　have　no　time　to　spare；　I　think。〃

〃When　the　darkness　fell　there　in　the　Place　of　Arms；〃　began　Nicholas；
〃while　you　knights　were　waiting　for　the　third　blast　of　the　trumpet；
Cattrina　fled　under　cover　it。〃

〃As　I　thought；　the　accursed　coward！〃　exclaimed　Hugh　bitterly。

〃Nay；　to　be　just；　it　was　not　all　cowardice。　The　wizard　in　the　yellow
cap；　he　who　showed　himself　to　the　people　afterward　and　called　down
this　Black　Death　on　Venice；　appeared　to　him　in　the　darkness　and　said
something　to　him　that　turned　his　heart　to　water。　I　think　it　was　that
if　he　stayed；　within　five　short　minutes　he'd　be　dead；　who　otherwise；
if　he　fled；　had　yet　a　breathing　space　of　life。　So　he　went。〃

〃Ay。　But　whither；　man？　Whither？〃

〃Here　to　his　house；　where　he　disguised　himself　and　bade　me　prepare　to
travel　with　him。　Only　then　the　sickness　took　me　and　I　could　not。　So　he
went　with　some　of　his　people；　riding　for　Avignon。〃

〃What　to　do　at　Avignon？〃

〃To　obtain　the　confirmation　of　his　marriage　with　the　lady　Eve
Clavering。　It　has　been　promised　to　him　by　certain　cardinals　at　Court
who　have　the　ear　of　his　Holiness　the　Pope。〃

〃Ah；　I　thought　it！　What　more？〃

〃Only　this：　tidings　reached　him　that　the　lady　Clavering；　with　the　old
Templar；　Sir　Andrew　Arnold；　journeys　to　Avignon　from　England；　there　to
obtain　the　dissolution　of　their　marriage　with　Sir　Edmund　Acour；　Count
de　Noyon；　Lord　of　Cattrina。　In　Avignon；　however　the　cause　may　go；
Cattrina　purposes　to　snare　and　make　her　his；　which　will　be　easy；　for
there　he　has　many　friends　and　she　has　none。〃

〃Except　God！〃　exclaimed　Hugh；　grinding　his　teeth。

〃And　Sir　Andrew　Arnold；〃　broke　in　Dick；　〃who；　like　some　others；　is；　I
think；　one　of　His　ministers。　Still；　we　had　better　be　riding；　master。〃

〃Nay；　nay；〃　cried　Nicholas　in　a　hoarse　scream。　〃Tarry　a　while　and　I'll
tell　you　that　which　will　force　the　Pope　to　void　this　marriage。　Yes；　it
shall　be　set　in　writing　and　signed　by　me　and　witnessed　ere　I　die。
There　is　ink　and　parchment　in　yonder　little　room。〃

〃That's　a　good　thought；〃　said