Red Eve

t of dead men and horses that surrounded the English line, and climbed it as though it were a wall. On the further side bonfires had been lit to lighten the darkness,

on and Richard de Beaumont who helped you w

e looked

nted to Hugh, who just then appeared within the circle of the

rchant of Dunwich-a gallant man. K

e red sword from his hand, struck h

ced servant asked before the battle. You have served us, or rather England

oyon, Sire, only, alack! anoth

King briefly, and in few

so I am wroth; my orders were that none of my men should sally out, though I fear me tha

r enemy and mine, has cheated and mocked me. Grant to me and my servant, R

e it was hatched, and we fear him no more. You follow me, Sir Hugh, and your servant with you, whom we make a captain of our archers. Until Calais is taken, leave not our person for any cause, and ask no more such boons lest you lose our favour. Nay, we have no more words for you since many others seek

that day six of her noblest citizens had come forth, bearing the keys of the fortress, clad in white shirts, with rope

come by during the siege. With him was his father, Master de Cressi, who had sailed across from Dunwich with a cargo of provisions, whereof, if the truth were k

t Eve is wel

your son, should have killed the wolf and let the poor swan go. When the wolf is dead, then, perchance, I will visit him. But, meanwhile, say to him that Red Eve's heart is where it always was, and that, like all Dunwich, she joy

o gift, fathe

you safe I had almost forgotten it, there is a letter from the holy Father, Sir Andrew. I have it somewhere in my po

letter was fou

ressi, knight, m

e sent to us and from the mouths of wounded soldiers returned from the war, your honoured father will

s face. Therefore Eve cannot come to you, nor must you come to her while de Noyon lives, unless the mind of his Holiness can be changed. Should France become more quiet, so that English folk can travel there in safety, perchance Eve and I will journey to Avignon to lay her plaint before the Holy Father. But as yet this seems scarcely possib

sat with you before the walls of Calais. God's blessing and mine be on you, and to Richard the archer, greetings. Dunwich has heard how he shot t

ew A

nished reading, "which I remember Sir Andrew charged me to give to you

k eagerly, for he

or for children that might come to us. Moreover, the holy father, Sir Andrew, forbids it, saying that God will right all in His season and that we must not make Him wroth. Therefore, Hugh, lover you are, but husband you may not be while de Noyon lives or until the Pope gives his dispensation of divorce, which latter may be l

can they mock you as 'the merchant's son,' Sir

Clave

ts there, pictures of woe such as have not been since the beginning of the world. Of this woe he preaches to the folk of Dunwich, warning them of judgment to come, a

s letter, Hugh turned to his father and asked him

tened me so much that I needed no more of that medicine. Nor, to tell truth, when I got home again could I remember al

k folk of such

hours. Afterward he called in the complainers and bade them cease their scandal of wizardry, since he was sure that what the holy Father said came from above and not from below. He added that they would do well to mend their lives and prepare to render their account, as for his part he should also, since the air was thick with doom. Th

shop I believe that what Sir Andrew says will come to

waited on the King, and with him

Sir Hugh de Cress

e you till Calais fell. I have served as best I could and Calais has fallen. Now

our sword, is away to Italy this six months gone, where, as the Seigneur de Cattrina, he has estates near Venice. But tell me how things stand.

e," and he told

on just now, and mayhap Philip has already written on behalf of de Noyon. At the best His Holiness will shear you close and keep you waiting while he weighs the wool. No, Red Eve is right: this is a knot soonest severed by the sword. If you sh

yed, return and make report to us of your adventures, and of how de Noyon died. The Queen will love to hear the tale, and your nuptials and Red Eve's shall be celebrated at Westminster in our presence, for you have earned no less. Master Secretary, get your tools, I will dictate the letters. After they

d for Genoa with a cargo of wool and other goods. On board this ship before he sailed Hugh handed to his father letters for Eve and for Sir Andrew Arnold. Al

prophecies of Sir Andrew had taken no

and south, and the daughters find husbands and joys and sorrows of their own, and both half forget them, as is nature's way. Last of all those parents die, as also is nature's way, and the half forgetfulness becomes whole as surely as the young moon grows to full. Well, well, this is a lesson that each generation must learn in turn, as yo

shall die, while you live on to a green old age. At least know that I am not forgetful of

wayward lad-for your own good, as he held. For what more can a father hope? But let us not weep before all these stranger men. Farewell, son Hugh, of wh

's an ugly world as I see it, but there's beauty in such love as this. The man for the maid and the maid for the man-pish! they want each other. But the father and the mother-they give all and

trary. At length, however, Hugh and Dick came there safe and sound. Having landed and bid farewell to the captai

land. On the morrow of their arrival he took them to a great lord in authority, who was called a Duke. This Duke, when he learned that one was a knight and the other a ca

which even with their wet strings they were quite a match (here Dick, who was standing to one side grinned faintly and stroked the case of his black bow, as though to bid it keep its memories to itself), but by the cow

no courtier, did not agree. Indeed, of a sudden he broke in, offering in his bad French to fight any cross-bow man in Genoa at six score yards, so that the Duke might lear

h an order for relays of horses. Also he made use of them to take a letter to the Doge of Venice, between which town and Genoa, although the

rough and the pack-beasts slow. Once, too, after they had entered the territory of Venice, they were set on in a defile by four thieves, and might have met their end had not Grey Dick's eyes been so sharp. As it was he saw them coming, and, having his bow at hand, for he did not like the look of

hich plied for the convenience of travellers, they entered the town through the western gate, and inquired as best they could (for now they had no guide, the Genoese having left them long before) for the house of Sir Geoffrey Carl

wished to be led to the house of the English ambassador. The sight of the money seemed to wake their wits, for two or three of the fellows ran forward quarrelli

ven, much against their will. Hugh and Dick having followed them, the three Italians began to punt them along the canal, which was bordered with tall houses. A mile or so farther o

g in their poles, save one to which they made the punt fast in mid-stream, showed by their gestures that they desired to be paid. Hugh handed the piece of gold to the man who had led them to the b

y are mad,"

are drawing their knives," and as he spoke one of the rogues struck him in

d struck him he seized by the arm and twisted it till the knife fell from his hand. Then gripping his neck in an iron grasp he forced him downwar

at length wearying of the game, he dealt him such a kick that he

d, the third man, he whom they had first met, sheathed his knife. With many bows and cringes he pulled up the pole and

eon a gentleman with a pale face and a grizzled beard who appeared to be

hat make this tumult at my gates? Anoth

companion, Richard the Archer, whom these rogues have tried

ffrey chang

any rufflers from our own land. Enter, I pray you. My servants will see to your

ld him

some back waterway and there done you to death. The canals of Venice hide the traces of many such foul deeds. Mother of Heaven!" he a

swam like a duck for the farther bank of the canal, and,

h letters of complaint. Only, Sir Hugh, be careful to wear mail when you walk about at night, lest that villain and his mates should come to collect their fare wit

t table in a great, cool room with Sir Geoffrey and his lady, a middle-aged and anxious

does not yet find it convenient to discharge. I have seen their like before, and to-morrow must deal with them as best I may-no pleasant business, for these usurers grow urgent," and he sighed. "But," he added, "the King says that you, Sir Hugh de Cressi,

ace to the Doge of Venice, which I am to ask you to d

r and read it, lifting h

champion as well as the avenger of certain private wrongs which you will explain. That's the letter. Well, I think the Doge will listen to it, because he scarce dare do otherwise who wishes no quarrel with our country just now when it is victorious. Also this de Noyon, whom we call Cattrina here, has allied himself with certain great men of the Republic, with whom he is connected by blood, who are secret enemies to the Doge. Through them he strives to stir up trouble between

told h

ight, especially after the sun sinks. I'll away to write to the Doge, setting out the heads of the matter and asking audience. The messenger shall leave ere I sleep, if sleep I may in this heat. Bide you