red eve-第8章
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never； I think； one stranger or more dreadful。 What would you do now；
godson？〃
〃Take sanctuary for myself and Grey Dick because of the slaying of
John Clavering and others； and afterward be married by you to Eve。〃
〃Be married to the sister with the brother's blood upon your hands
without absolution from the Church or pardon from the King； and you
but a merchant's younger son and she to…night one of the greatest
heiresses in East Anglia！ Why； how may that be？〃
〃I blame him not；〃 broke in Eve。 〃John； whom I never loved； strove to
smoke us out like rats because he was in the pay of the Norman； my
Lord of Acour。 John struck Hugh in the face with his hand and
slandered him with his tongue。 John was given his life once； and
afterwards slain in fair fight。 Oh； I say； I blame him not； nor shall
John's blood rise between him and me！〃
〃Yet the world will blame him； and you； too； Eve； yes； even those who
love you both。 A while must go by； say a year。 At least I'll not marry
you at once； and cannot； if I would； with both your fathers living and
unadvised； and the sheriff waiting at the gate。 Tell me now； do any
know that you have entered here？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Dick； looking up from his bow。 〃The hunt came after us；
but I hid these two in a bush and led it away past Hinton to the
Ipswich road； keeping but just ahead in the snow and talking in three
voices。 Then I gave them the slip and returned。 They'll not guess that
we have come to Dunwich for a while。〃
〃And when they do even the boldest will not enter this holy sanctuary
while the Church has terrors for men's souls。 Yet； here you must not
stay for long； lest in this way or in that your lives pay the price of
it； or a bloody feud break out between the Claverings of Blythburgh
and the de Cressis of Dunwich。 Daughter Eve； get you to bed with old
Agnes。 You are so weary that you will not mind her snores。 To…morrow
ere the dawn I'll talk with you； and； meanwhile； I have words for
Hugh。 Nay； have no fear； the windows are all barred； and Archer Dick
shall watch the door。〃
Eve went； unwillingly enough； although she could scarcely walk；
flashing a good…night to her lover with her fine eyes。 Presently Grey
Dick also went to sleep； like a dog with one eye open； in the little
ante…chamber； near to the great door。
〃Now； Hugh；〃 said Father Arnold； when they were left alone； 〃your case
is desperate； for if you stay here certainly these Claverings will
have your blood。 Yet； if you can be got away safely； there is still a
shaft that you may shoot more deadly than any that ever left Grey
Dick's quiver。 But yesterday I told you for your comfortwhen we
spoke of his wooing of Red Evethat this Norman； for such he is；
although his mother was English and he was English born； is a traitor
to King Edward； whom he pretends to serve。〃
〃Ay； and I said as much to him this afternoon when he prated to me of
his knightly honour； and； though I had no time to take note of faces；
I thought he liked it little who answered hotly that I was a liar。〃
〃I am sorry； Hugh； it may put him on his guard； or perhaps he'll pay
no heed。 At least the words are said； and there's an end。 Now hearken。
I told neither you nor any one all the blackness of his treachery。
Have you guessed what this Acour is here to do？〃
〃Spy out the King's power in these parts； I suppose。〃
〃More than that〃and he dropped his voice to a whisper〃spy out a
safe landing…place for fifty thousand Normans upon our Suffolk coast。
They are to sail hither this coming summer and set the crown of
England upon their Duke John； who will hold it as vassal to his sire；
Philip of France。〃
〃God's name！ Is that true？〃
〃Ay； though in such a devil's business that Name is best left out。
Look you； lad； I had warning from overseas； where； although I am now
nothing but a poor old priest of a broken Order； I still have friends
in high places。 Therefore I watched and found that messengers were
passing between Acour and France。 One of these messengers； a priest；
came a week ago to Dunwich； and spent the night in a tavern waiting
for his ship to sail in the morning。 The good wife who keeps that
tavernask not her namewould go far to serve me。 That night this
priest slept sound； and while he slept a letter was cut from the
lining of his cassock； and another without writing sewn there in place
of it； so that he'll never know the difference till he reaches John of
Normandy； and then not where he lost it。 Stay； you shall see；〃 and he
went to the wall and from some secret place behind the hangings
produced a writing； which he handed to Hugh； who looked at it； then
gave it back to him； saying：
〃Read it to me； Father； English I can spell out； but this French
puzzles my eyes。〃
So he read； Hugh listening eagerly to every word：
My Lord Duke：
This by a faithful hand that you know to tell you all goes well
with your Grace's business； and with that of your royal father。
While pretending to hunt or hawk I have found three places along
this seaboard at any one of which the army can land next summer
with little resistance to fear； for though the land is rich in
cattle and corn； the people are few。
These places of which I have made survey have deep water up to the
beach。 I will tell you of them more particularly when I return。
Meanwhile I linger here for sundry reasons； which you know； hoping
to draw those of whom you speak to me to your cause； which； God
aiding me； I shall do； since he of England has wronged one of them
and slighted the others； so that they are bitter against him； and
ready to listen to the promises which I make in your name。
As an excuse for my long stay that has caused doubts in some
quarters； I speak of my Suffolk lands which need my care。 Also I
court the daughter of my host here； the Knight of Clavering； a
stubborn Englishman who cannot be won； but a man of great power
and repute。 This courtship； which began in jest； has ended in
earnest； since the girl is very haughty and beautiful； and as she
will not be played with I propose； with your good leave； to make
her my wife。 Her father accepts my suit； and when he and the
brother are out of the way； as doubtless may happen after your
army comes； she will have great possessions。
I thank your Grace for the promise of the wide English lands of
which I spoke to you； and the title that goes with them。 These I
will do my best to earn； nor will I ask for them till I kneel
before you when you are crowned King of England at Westminster； as
I doubt not God will bring about before this year is out。 I have
made a map of the road by which your army should march on London
after landing； and of the towns to be sacked upon the way thither。
This； however； I keep； since although not one in ten thousand of
these English swine can read French； or any other tongue； should
it chance to be lost； all can understand a map。 Not that there is
any fear of loss； for who will meddle with a priest who carries
credentials signed by his Holiness himself。
I do homage to your Grace。 This written with my hand from
Blythburgh； in Suffolk； on the twentieth day of February； 1346。
Edmund of Noyon。
Father Arnold ceased reading； and Hugh gasped out：
〃What a fool is this knave…Count！〃
〃Most men are； my son； in this way or in that； and the few wise profit
by their folly。 Thus this letter； which he thought so safe； will save
England to Edward and his race； you from many dangers； your betrothed
from a marriage which she hatesthat is； if you can get safe away
with it from Dunwich。〃
〃Where to； Father？〃
〃To King Edward in London； with another that I will write for you ere
the dawn。〃
〃But is it safe； Father； to trust so precious a thing to me； who have
bitter enemies awaiting me； and may as like as not be crow's meat by
to…morrow？〃
Father Arnold looked at him with his soft and dreamy eyes； then said：
〃I think the crow's not hatched that will pick your bones； Hugh；
though at the last there be crows； or worms； for all of us。〃
〃Why not； Father？ Doubtless； this morning young John of Cla
