red eve-第7章
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〃You have missed out love and death；〃 answered the girl〃a full feast
for a day that is not done。 But whither now？〃
〃To take sanctuary at the Preceptory and raise my kin。 Forward； Eve；
ere you freeze。〃
〃I think there is that in me which will not freeze；〃 she answered； and
broke into a run。
Now night closed in； and the snow which had been threatening all day
began to fall； making their path over the heath difficult。
〃We need Grey Dick to guide us； but alack； I fear he is dead！〃
muttered Hugh。
〃I think others will be dead； not Dick；〃 she answered。
Just then they heard a footstep behind them。
Hugh wheeled round and drew his sword； but almost before it had left
the scabbard a long figure glided out of the snow； and said：
〃More to the left； master； more to the left； unless you would make
your peace on Blythburgh bridge； where some would be glad to meet
you。〃
〃How went it？〃 asked Hugh shortly。
〃Not well。 I shot thrice and slew three men； two of the French
knights； and Thomas of Kessland； against whom I had a score that now
is settled。 But the fourth time I missed。〃
〃Who？〃 asked Eve between her teeth as she ran beside him。
〃The Frenchman who means to marry you。 When the others fell back he
came at me on his horse as I was setting a fresh arrow； thinking to
get me。 I had to shoot quick； and aimed low for his heart； because in
that light I could not make certain of his face。 He saw； and jerked up
the horses head； so that the shaft took it in the throat and killed
the beast without hurting its rider。 He was off in an instant and at
me； with others； before I could draw again。 So I thought it time to
go； which I did； backward； as he thrust。 Perhaps he thinks he killed
me； as I meant he should； only when he looks at his sword he'll find
it clean。 That's all。〃
And again Grey Dick chuckled。
CHAPTER III
FATHER ANDREW
None were abroad in the streets of Dunwich on that bitter winter night
when these three trudged wearily down Middlegate Street through the
driving snow to the door of the grey Preceptory of the Knights
Templar。 In a window above the porch a light burned dimly； the only
one to be seen in any of the houses round about； for by now all men
were abed。
〃'Tis Father Arnold's room；〃 said Eve。 〃He sits there at his books。
I'll knock and call him； but do you two go lay hold of the ring of the
church door；〃 and she nodded toward a grey pile that stood near by。
〃Then none can touch you； and how know we who may be in this house？〃
〃I'll go no step further；〃 answered Hugh sullenly。 〃All this Temple
ground is sanctuary； or at least we will risk it。〃 And； seizing the
knocker； he hammered at the door。
The light in the window vanished； and presently they heard a sound of
creaking bolts。 Then the door opened； revealing a tall man； white…
bearded； ancient； and clad in a frayed； furred robe worn over a
priest's cassock； who held a lantern in his hand。
〃Who knocks？〃 he asked。 〃Does some soul pass that you disturb me after
curfew？〃
〃Ay； Father Andrew；〃 answered Hugh； 〃souls have passed； and souls are
near to passing。 Let us in； and we will tell you all。〃
Without waiting for an answer he entered with the others； pushed to
the massive door and bolted it again。
〃What's this？ A woman？〃 said the old priest。 〃Eve of Clavering； by the
Saints！〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered calmly； though her teeth chattered； 〃Eve of
Clavering； Eve the Red； this time with the blood of men； soaked with
the waters of the Blythe； frozen with the snows of Dunwich Heath；
where she has lain hid for hours with a furze bush for shelter。 Eve
who seeks shriving； a dry rag for her back； a morsel for her lips； and
fire to warm her； which in the Name of Christ and of charity she prays
you will not refuse to her。〃
So she spoke； and laughed recklessly。
Almost before she had finished her wild words the old man； who looked
what he was； a knight arrayed in priestly robes； had run to a door at
the end of the hall and was calling through it； 〃Mother Agnes！ Mother
Agnes！〃
〃Be not so hasty； Sir Andrew；〃 answered a shrill voice。 〃A posset must
have time to boil。 It is meet now that you wear a tonsure that you who
are no longer a centurion should forget these 'Come； and he cometh；'
ways。 When the water's hot〃
The rest of that speech was lost； for Father Arnold； muttering some
word belonging to his 〃centurion〃 days； dived into the kitchen； to
reappear presently dragging a little withered old woman after him who
was dressed in a robe of conventual make。
〃Peace； Mother Agnes； peace！〃 he said。 〃Take this lady； dry her； array
her in your best gown； give her food； warm her； and bring her back to
me。 Short？ What care I if the robe be short？ Obey； or it will not be
come； and he cometh； but go and she goeth； and then who will shelter
one who talks so much？〃
He thrust the pair of them through the kitchen door and； returning；
led Hugh and Grey Dick up a broad oak stair to what had been the
guest…hall of the Preceptory on its first floor。
It was a very great chamber where； before their Order was dispersed；
all the Knights Templar had been wont to dine with those who visited
them at times of festival。 Tattered banners still hung among the
cobwebs of the ancient roof； the shields of past masters with stately
blazonings were carved in stone upon the walls。 But of all this
departed splendour but little could be seen； since the place was lit
only by a single lamp of whale's oil and a fire that burned upon the
wide stone hearth； a great fire； since Father Arnold； who had spent
many years of his life in the East； loved warmth。
〃Now； Hugh de Cressi；〃 he said； 〃what have you done？〃
〃Slain my cousin； John of Clavering； Father； and perhaps another man。〃
〃In fair fight； very fair fight；〃 croaked Grey Dick。
〃Who doubts it？ Can a de Cressi be a murderer？〃 asked the priest。 〃And
you； Richard the Archer； what have you done？〃
〃Shot a good horse and three bad men dead with arrowsat least they
should be deadand another through the hand； standing one against
twenty。〃
〃A gallantI meanan evil deed；〃 broke in the old warrior priest；
〃though once it happened to me in a place called Damascusbut you
both are wet； also。 Come into my chamber； I can furnish you with
garments of a sort。 And； Richard； set that black bow of yours near the
fire； but not too fire。 As you should know well； a damp string is ill
to draw with。 Nay； fear not to leave it； this is sanctuary； and to
make sure I will lock the doors。〃
Half an hour was gone by； and a very strange company had gathered
round the big fire in the guest…chamber of the Temple； eating with
appetite of such food as its scanty larder could provide for them。
First there was Red Eve in a woollen garment； the Sunday wear of
Mother Agnes for twenty years past and more； which reached but little
below her knees； and was shaped like a sack。 On her feet were no
shoes； and for sole adornment her curling black hair fell about her
shoulders； for so she had arranged it because the gown would not meet
across her bosom。 Yet； odd as it might be； in this costume Eve looked
wonderfully beautiful； perhaps because it was so scant and the
leathern strap about her waist caused it to cling close to her shapely
form。
By her stood Hugh； wearing a splendid suit of chain armour。 It had
been Sir Andrew Arnold's in his warlike years； and now he lent it to
his godson Hugh because； as he said； he had nothing else。 Also； it may
have crossed the minds of both of them that such mail as this which
the Saracens had forged； if somewhat out of fashion； could still turn
swordcuts。
Then there was Grey Dick； whose garments seemed to consist of a sack
with holes in it tied round him with a rope； his quiver of arrows
slung over it for ornament。 He sat by the fire on a stool； oiling his
black bow with a rind of the fat bacon that he had been eating。
All the tale had been told； and Father Arnold looked very grave
indeed。
〃I have known strange and dreadful stories in my time；〃 he said； 〃but
never； I think； one stranger or more dreadful。 What would you do now；
godson？〃
〃Take s
