red eve-第15部分

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wondrous　skill；　ran　to　Dick；　clasped　him　in　his　arms；　and；　dragging
the　badge　from　off　his　breast；　tried　to　pin　it　to　his　rough　doublet。
The　young　Prince　came　and　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder；　saying：

〃Be　my　man！　Be　my　man！〃

But　Dick　only　growled；　〃Paws　off！　What　have　I　done　that　I　have　not
done　a　score　of　times　before　with　no　fine　folk　to　watch　me？　I　shot　to
please　my　master　and　for　the　honour　of　Suffolk；　not　for　you；　and
because　some　dogs　keep　their　tails　too　tightly　curled。〃

〃A　sulky　fellow；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃but；　by　heaven；　I　like　him！〃

Then　the　King　pushed　his　horse　through　the　throng；　and　all　fell　back
before　his　Grace。

〃Richard　Archer；〃　he　said；　〃never　has　such　marksmanship　as　yours　been
seen　in　England　since　we　sat　upon　the　throne；　nor　shall　it　go
unrewarded。　The　twenty　angels　that　you　said　you　would　stake　last　night
shall　be　paid　to　you　by　the　treasurer　of　our　household。　Moreover；　here
is　a　gift　from　Edward　of　England；　the　friend　of　archers；　that　you　may
be　pleased　to　wear；〃　and　taking　his　velvet　cap　from　off　his　head；　the
King　unpinned　from　it　a　golden　arrow　of　which　the　barbed　head　was　cut
from　a　ruby；　and　gave　it　to　him。

〃I　thank　you；　Sire；〃　said　Dick；　his　pale　skin　flushing　with　pride　and
pleasure。　〃I'll　wear　it　while　I　live；　and　may　the　sight　of　it　mean
death　to　many　of　your　enemies。〃

〃Without　doubt　it　will；　and　that　ere　long；　Richard；　for　know　you　that
soon　we　sail　again　for　France；　whence　the　tempest　held　us　back；　and　it
is　my　pleasure　that　you　sail　with　us。　Therefore　I　name　you　one　of　our
fletchers；　with　place　about　our　person　in　our　bodyguard　of　archers。
Jack　Green　will　show　you　your　quarters；　and　instruct　you　in　your
duties；　and　soon　you　shall　match　your　skill　against　his　again；　but
next　time　with　Frenchmen　for　your　targets。〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Dick；　very　slowly；　〃take　back　your　arrow；　for　I　cannot　do
as　you　will。〃

〃Why；　man？　Are　you　a　Frenchman？〃　asked　the　King；　angrily；　for　he　was
not　wont　to　have　his　favours　thus　refused。

〃My　mother　never　told　me　so；　Sire；　although　I　don't　know　for　certain
who　my　father　may　have　been。　Still；　I　think　not；　since　I　hate　the
sight　of　that　breed　as　a　farmer's　dog　hates　rats。　But；　Sire；　I　have　a
good　master；　and　do　not　wish　to　change　him　for　one　who；　saving　your
presence；　may　prove　a　worse；　since　King's　favour　on　Monday　has　been
known　to　mean　King's　halter　on　Tuesday。　Did　you　not　promise　to　whip　me
round　your　walls　last　night　unless　I　shot　as　well　as　I　thought　I
could；　and　now　do　you　not　change　your　face　and　give　me　golden　arrows？〃

At　these　bold　words　a　roar　of　laughter　went　up　from　all　who　heard
them；　in　which　the　King　himself　joined　heartily　enough。

〃Silence！〃　he　cried　presently。　〃This　yeoman's　tongue　is　as　sharp　as
his　shafts。　I　am　pierced。　Let　us　hear　whom　he　will　hit　next。〃

〃You　again；　Sire；　I　think；〃　went　on　Dick；　〃because；　after　the　fashion
of　kings；　you　are　unjust。　You　praise　me　for　my　shooting；　whereas　you
should　praise　God；　seeing　that　it　is　no　merit　of　mine；　but　a　gift　He
gave　me　at　my　birth　in　place　of　much　which　He　withheld。　Moreover；　my
master　there；〃　and　he　pointed　to　Hugh；　〃who　has　just　done　you　better
service　than　hitting　a　clout　in　the　red　and　a　dow　beneath　the　wing；
you　forget　altogether；　though　I　tell　you　he　can　shoot　almost　as　well
as　I；　for　I　taught　him。〃

〃Dick；　Dick！〃　broke　in　Hugh　in　an　agony　of　shame。　Taking　no　heed；　Dick
went　on　imperturbably：　〃And　is　the　best　man　with　a　sword　in　Suffolk；
as　the　ghost　of　John　Clavering　knows　to…day。　Lastly；　Sire；　you　send
this　master　of　mine　upon　a　certain　business　where　straight　arrows　may
be　wanted　as　well　as　sharp　swords；　and　yet　you'd　keep　me　here
whittling　them　out　of　ashwood；　who；　if　I　could　have　had　my　will；　would
have　been　on　the　road　these　two　hours　gone。　Is　that　a　king's　wisdom？〃

〃By　St。　George！〃　exclaimed　Edward；　〃I　think　that　I　should　make　you
councillor　as　well　as　fletcher；　since　without　doubt；　man；　you　have　a
bitter　wit；　and；　what　is　more　rare；　do　not　fear　to　speak　the　truth　as
you　see　it。　Moreover；　in　this　matter；　you　see　it　well。　Go　with　Hugh　de
Cressi　on　the　business　which　I　have　given　him　to　do；　and；　when　it　is
finished；　should　both　or　either　of　you　live；　neglect　not　our　command
to　rejoin　us　here；　orif　we　have　crossed　the　seain　France。　Edward
of　England　needs　the　service　of　such　a　sword　and　such　a　bow。〃

〃You　shall　have　them　both；　Sire；〃　broke　in　Hugh；　〃for　what　they　are
worth。　Moreover；　I　pray　your　Grace　be　not　angry　with　Grey　Dick's
words；　for　if　God　gave　him　a　quick　eye；　He　also　gave　him　a　rough
tongue。〃

〃Not　I；　Hugh　de　Cressi；　for　know；　we　love　what　is　rough　if　it　be　also
honest。　It　is　smooth；　false　words　of　treachery　that　we　hate；　such
words　as　are　ever　on　the　lips　of　one　whom　we　send　you　forth　to　bring
to　his　account。　Now　to　your　duty。　Farewell　till　we　meet　again；　whether
it　be　here　or　where　all　men；　true　or　traitors；　must　foot　their　bill　at
last。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VI

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SNARE

About　noon　of　the　day　on　which　Hugh　and　his　company　had　ridden　for
London；　another　company　entered　Dunwichnamely；　Sir　John　Clavering
and　many　of　his　folk；　though　with　him　were　neither　Sir　Edmund　Acour
nor　any　of　his　French　train。　Sir　John's　temper　had　never　been　of　the
best；　for　he　was　a　man　who；　whatever　his　prosperity；　found　life　hard
and　made　it　harder　for　all　those　about　him。　But　seldom　had　he　been
angrier　than　he　was　this　day；　when　his　rage　was　mingled　with　real
sorrow　for　the　loss　of　his　only　son；　slain　in　a　fight　brought　about　by
the　daughter　of　one　of　them　and　the　sister　of　the　other　and　urged　for
honour's　sake　by　himself；　the　father　of　them　both。

Moreover；　the　marriage　on　which　he　had　set　his　heart　between　Eve　and
the　glittering　French　lord　whose　future　seemed　so　great　had　been
brought　to　naught；　and　this　turbulent；　hot…hearted　Eve　had　fled　into
sanctuary。　Her　lover；　too；　the　youngest　son　of　a　merchant；　had　ridden
away　to　London；　doubtless　upon　some　mission　which　boded　no　good　to　him
or　his；　leaving　a　blood　feud　behind　him　between　the　wealthy　de　Cressis
and　all　the　Clavering　kin。

There　was　but　one　drop　of　comfort　in　his　cup。　By　now；　as　he　hoped；
Hugh　and　his　death's…head；　Grey　Dick；　a　spawn　of　Satan　that　all　the
country　feared；　and　who；　men　said；　was　a　de　Cressi　bastard　by　a　witch；
were　surely　slain　or　taken　by　those　who　followed　upon　their　heels。

Sir　John　rode　to　the　Preceptory　and　hammered　fiercely　on　its　oaken
door。　Presently　it　was　opened　by　Sir　Andrew　Arnold　himself；　who　stood
in　the　entrance；　grey　and　grim；　a　long　sword　girt　about　his　loins　and
armour　gleaming　beneath　his　monkish　robe。

〃What　would　you；　Sir　John　Clavering；　that　you　knock　at　this　holy　house
thus　rudely？〃　he　asked。

〃My　daughter；　priest；　who；　they　say；　has　sheltered　here。〃

〃They　say　well；　knight；　she　has　sheltered　here　beneath　the　wings　of
St。　Mary　and　St。　John。　Begone　and　leave　her　in　peace。〃

〃I　make　no　more　of　such　wings　than　if　they　were　those　of　farmyard
geese；〃　roared　the　furious　man。　〃Bring　her　or　I　will　pluck　her　forth。〃

〃Do　so；〃　replied　Sir　Andrew；　〃if　you　live　to　pass　this　consecrated
sword；〃　and　he　laid　his　hand　upon　its　hilt。　〃Take　with　her　also　the
curse　of　the　Mother　of　God；　and　His　beloved　Apostle；　and　that　of　the
whole　Church　of　Christ；　by　me　declared　upon　your　head　in　this　world
and　upon　your　soul　in　the　world　to　come。　Man；　this　is　sanctuary；　and
if　you　dare　to　set　foot　within　it　in　violence；　may　your　body　perish
and　your　soul　scorch　everlastingly　in　the　fires　of　hell。　And　you；〃　he
added；　raising　his　voice　till　it　rang　like　a　trumpet；　addressing　the
followers　of　Sir　John；　〃on　you　also　let　the　curse　of　excommunication
fall。　Now　slay　me　and　enter　if　you　will；　but　then　every　drop　of　blood
in　these　veins　shall　find　a　separate　tongue　and　cry　out　for　vengeance
on　you　before　the　judgment　seat　of　God；　where　presently　I　summon　you
to　meet　me。〃

Then　he　crossed　himself；　drew　the　great　sword；　and；　holding　it　in　his
left　hand；　stretched　out　his　right　toward　them　in　malediction。

The　Clavering　men　heard　and　saw。　They　looked　at　each　other；　and；　as
though　by　common　consent；　turned　and　rode　away；　crossing　themselves
also。　In　truth；　they　had　no　stomach　for　the　curse　of　the　Church　when
it　was　thundered　forth　from　the　lips　of　such　a　monk　as　Sir　Andrew
Arnold；　who；　they　knew　well；　had　been　one　of　the　greatest　and　holiest
warriors　of　his　generation；　and；　so　said　rumour；　was　a　white　wizard　to
boot　with　all　the　magic　of　the　East　at　his　command。

〃Your　men　have　gone；　Sir　John；〃　said　the　old　priest；　〃will　you　follow
them　or　will　you　enter？〃

Now　fear　drove　out　the　knight's　rage　and　he　spoke　in　another　voice。

〃Sir　Andrew；　why　do　you　bring　all　these　wrongs　upon　me？　My　boy　is　dead
at　the　hand　of　Hugh　de　Cressi；　your　godson；　and　he　has　robbed　me　of　my
daughter；　whom　I　have　affianced　to　a　better　and　a　nobler　man。　Now　you
give　her　sanctuary　and　threaten　me　with　the　curse　of　the　Church
because　I　would　claim　her；　my　own　flesh　and　blood；　ay；　and　my　heiress
too　to…day。　Tell　me；　as　one　man　to　another；　why　do　you　do　these
things？〃

〃And　tell　me；　Sir　John　Clavering；　why　for　the　sake　of　pelf　and　of
honours　that　you　will　never　harvest　do　you　seek　to　part　those　who　love
each　other　and　whom　God　has　willed　to　bring　together？　Why　would　you
sell　your　child　to　a　gilded　knave　whom　she　hates？　Nay；　stop　me　not。
I'd　call　him　that　and　more　to　his　face　and　none　have　ever　known　me
lie。　Why　did　you　suffer　this　Frenchman　or　your　dead　son；　or　both　of
them；　to　try　to　burn　out　Hugh　de　Cressi　and　Red　Eve　as　though　they
were　rats　in　rubbish？〃

〃Would　you　know；　Father？　Then　I'll　tell　you。　Because　I　wish　to　see　my
daughter　set　high　among　lords　and　princes　and　not　the　wife　of　a
merchant's　lad；　who　by　law　may　wear　cloth　only　and　rabbit　fur。
Because；　also；　I　hate　him　and　all　his　kin；　and　if　this　is　true　of
yesterday；　how　much　more　true　is　it　now　that　he　has　killed　my　son；　and
by　the　arrows　of　that　wolf…man　who　dogs　his　heels；　slain　my　guests　and
my　grieve。　Think　not　I'll　rest　till　I　have　vengeance　of　him　and　all
his　cursed　House。　I'll　appeal　to　the　King；　and　if　he　will　not　give　me
justice　I'll　take　it　for　myself。　Ay；　though　you　are　old；　I　te