red eve-第51部分

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learn　in　time。　At　least　a　while　ago　you　who　had　taken　our　money；
strove　to　murder　both　of　us；　or　cause　us　to　be　torn　in　pieces　upon
yonder　square　where　the　fires　burned。　Now；　too；　you　have　striven　to
murder　me　with　that　bodkin　of　yours；　not　knowing；　fool；　that　I　am　safe
from　all　men。　Well；　say　your　prayers；　since　you　too　journey　to　the
plague　pit；　for　so　the　gatherers　of　the　dead　will　think　you　died。〃

〃Sir；〃　gasped　the　terrified　wretch；　〃spare　me　and　I　will　speak〃

〃More　lies；〃　hissed　Dick　into　his　ear。　〃Nay；　go　tell　them　to　the
father　of　lies；　for　I　have　no　time　to　waste　in　hearkening　to　them。
Take　your　pay；　traitor！〃

A　few　seconds　later　Basil　lay　dead　upon　the　floor。

Grey　Dick　looked　at　him。　Kneeling　down；　he　thrust　his　hands　into　the
man's　pockets；　and　took　thence　the　gold　that　he　had　been　hiding　away
when　they　came　upon　him；　no　small　sum　as　it　chanced。

〃Our　own　come　back　with　interest；〃　he　said　with　one　of　his　silent
laughs；　〃and　we　shall　need　monies　for　our　faring。　Why；　here's　a
writing　also　which　may　tell　those　who　can　read　it　something。〃

He　cast　it　on　the　table；　then　turned　to　his　master；　who　was　awakening
from　his　swoon。

Dick　helped　him　to　his　feet。

〃What　has　passed？〃　asked　Hugh　in　a　hollow　voice。

〃Murgh！〃　answered　Dick；　pointing　to　the　dead　man　on　the　floor。

〃Have　you　killed　him；　friend？〃

〃Ay；　sure　enough；　as　he　strove　to　kill　me；〃　and　again　he　pointed；　this
time　to　the　broken　dagger。

Hugh　made　no　answer；　only　seeing　the　writing　on　the　table；　took　it　up；
and　began　to　read　like　one　who　knows　not　what　he　does。　Presently　his
eyes　brightened　and　he　said：

〃What　does　this　mean；　I　wonder。　Hearken。〃

　〃Rogue；　you　have　cheated　me　as　you　cheat　all　men　and　now　I　follow
　　her　who　has　gone。　Be　sure；　however；　that　you　shall　reap　your
　　reward　in　due　season。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃de　Noyon。〃

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Dick；　〃and　the　interpreter　is　silent；〃　and　he
kicked　the　body　of　Basil。　〃Perhaps　I　was　a　little　over　hasty　who　might
have　squeezed　the　truth　out　of　him　before　the　end。〃

〃'Her　who　is　gone；'〃　reflected　Hugh　aloud。　〃'Tis　Red　Eve　who　is　gone
and　de　Noyon　is　scarcely　the　man　to　seek　her　among　passed　souls。
Moreover；　the　Jews　swear　that　he　rode　from　Avignon　two　days　ago。　Come；
Dick；　let　that　carrion　lie；　and　to　the　plague　pit。〃



An　hour　later　and　they　stood　on　the　edge　of　that　dreadful　place；
hearing　and　seeing　things　which　are　best　left　untold。　A　priest　came　up
to　them；　one　of　those　good　men　who；　caring　nothing　for　themselves；
still　dared　to　celebrate　the　last　rites　of　the　Church　above　the　poor
departed。

〃Friends；〃　he　said；　〃you　seem　to　be　in　trouble。　Can　I　help　you；　for
Jesus'　sake？〃

〃Perchance；　holy　Father；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃Tell　us；　you　who　watch　this
dreadful　place；　was　a　woman　wrapped　in　a　red　cloak　thrown　in　here　two
or　three　days　gone？〃

〃Alas；　yes；〃　said　the　priest　with　a　sigh；　〃for　I　read　the　Office　over
her　and　others。　Nay；　what　are　you　about　to　do？　By　now　she　is　two
fathoms　deep　and　burned　away　with　lime　so　that　none　could　know　her。　If
you　enter　there　the　guards　will　not　let　you　thence　living。　Moreover；
it　is　useless。　Pray　to　God　to　comfort　you；　poor　man；　as　I　will；　who　am
sure　it　will　not　be　denied。〃

Then　Dick　led；　or　rather　carried；　Hugh　from　the　brink　of　that　awesome；
common　grave。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XIX

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　DOOM

It　was　the　last　night　of　February；　the　bitterest　night　perhaps　of　all
that　sad　winter；　when　at　length　Hugh　de　Cressi；　Grey　Dick；　and　David
Day　rode　into　the　town　of　Dunwich。　Only　that　morning　they　had　landed
at　Yarmouth　after　a　long；　long　journey　whereof　the　perils　and　the
horrors　may　be　guessed　but　need　not　be　written。　France；　through　which
they　had　passed；　seemed　to　be　but　one　vast　grave　over　which　the　wail
of　those　who　still　survived　went　up　without　cease　to　the　cold；
unpitying　heavens。

Here　in　England　the　tale　was　still　the　same。　Thus　in　the　great　seaport
of　Yarmouth　scarcely　enough　people　were　left　alive　to　inter　the
unshriven　dead；　nor　of　these　would　any　stay　to　speak　with　them；
fearing　lest　they　had　brought　a　fresh　curse　from　overseas。　Even　the
horses　that　they　rode　they　took　from　a　stable　where　they　whinnied
hungrily；　none　being　there　to　feed　them；　leaving　in　their　place　a
writing　of　the　debt。

Betwixt　Yarmouth　and　Dunwich　they　had　travelled　through　smitten　towns
and　villages；　where　a　few　wandered　fearfully；　distraught　with　sorrow
or　seeking　food。　In　the　streets　the　very　dogs　lay　dead　and　in　the
fields　they　saw　the　carcasses　of　cattle　dragged　from　the　smokeless　and
deserted　steadings　and　half　hidden　in　a　winding…sheet　of　snow。　For　the
Black　Plague　spared　neither　man　nor　beast。

At　the　little　port　of　Lowestoft　they　met　a　sullen　sailorman　who　stood
staring　at　the　beach　whereon　his　fishing　boat　lay　overturned　and　awash
for　lack　of　hands　to　drag　it　out　of　reach　of　the　angry　sea。　They　asked
him　if　he　knew　of　how　it　fared　with　Dunwich。

By　way　of　answer　he　cursed　them；　adding：

〃Must　I　be　forever　pestered　as　to　Dunwich？　This　is　the　third　time　of
late　that　I　have　heard　of　Dunwich　from　wandering　folk。　Begone　thither
and　gather　tidings　for　yourselves；　which　I　hope　will　please　you　as
well　as　they　do　me。〃

〃Now；　if　I　were　not　in　haste　I　would　stay　a　while　to　teach　you
manners；　you　foul…mouthed　churl；〃　muttered　Grey　Dick　between　his
teeth。

〃Let　the　fellow　be；〃　said　Hugh　wearily；　〃the　men　of　Lowestoft　have
ever　hated　those　of　Dunwich；　and　it　seems　that　a　common　woe　does　not
soften　hearts。　Soon　enough　we　shall　learn　the　truth。〃

〃Ay；　you'll　learn　it　soon　enough；〃　shouted　the　brute　after　them。
〃Dunwich　boats　won't　steel　Lowestoft　herrings　for　many　a　year！〃

So　they　rode　on　through　Kessland；　which　they　reached　as　night　was
closing　in；　through　Benacre　and　Wrentham；　also　past　houses　in　which
none　seemed　to　dwell。

〃Murgh　has　been　here　before　us；　I　think；〃　said　Dick　at　length。

〃Then　I　hope　that　we　may　overtake　him；〃　answered　Hugh　with　a　smile；
〃for　I　need　his　tidingsor　his　rest。　Oh！　Dick；　Dick；〃　he　added；　〃I
wonder　has　ever　man　borne　a　heavier　burden　for　all　this　weary　while？
If　I　were　sure；　it　would　not　be　so　bad；　for　when　earthly　hope　is　done
we　may　turn　to　other　comfort。　But　I'm　not　sure；　Basil　may　have　lied。
The　priest　by　the　pit　could　only　swear　to　the　red　cloak；　of　which
there　are　many；　though　few　be　buried　in　them。　And；　Dick；　there　are
worse　things　than　that。　Perchance　Acour　got　her　after　all。〃

〃And　perchance　he　didn't；〃　answered　Dick。　〃Well；　fret　on　if　you　will；
the　thing　does　not　trouble　me　who　for　my　part　am　sure　enough。〃

〃Of　what；　man；　of　what？〃

〃Of　seeing　the　lady　Eve　ere　long。〃

〃In　this　world　or　the　next；　Dick？〃

〃In　this。　I　don't　reckon　of　the　next；　mayhap　there　we　shall　be　blind
and　not　see。　Besides；　of　what　use　is　that　world　to　you　where　it　is
written　that　they　neither　marry　nor　are　given　in　marriage；　but　are　as
the　angels？　You'll　make　no　good　angel；　I'm　thinking；　while　as　for　the
lady　Eve；　she's　too　human　for　it　as　yet。〃

〃Why　do　you　think　we　shall　see　her　on　earth？〃　asked　Hugh；　ignoring
these　reflections。

〃Because　he　who　is　called　the　Helper　said　as　much；　and　whatever　he　may
be　he　is　no　liar。　Do　you　not　remember　what　Red　Eve　told　you　when　she
awoke　from　that　dream　of　hers；　which　was　no　dream？　And　do　you　not
remember　what　Sir　Andrew　told　you　as　to　a　certain　meeting　in　the　snow
pest　upon　it！〃　and　he　wiped　some　of　the　driving　flakes　from　his　face
〃Sir　Andrew；　who　is　a　saint；　and；　therefore；　like　Murgh；　can　be　no
liar？〃

〃If　you　think　thus；〃　said　Hugh　in　a　new　voice；　〃why　did　you　not　say　so
before？〃

〃Because　I　love　not　argument；　master；　and　if　I　had；　you　would　ever
have　reasoned　with　me　from　Avignon　to　Yarmouth　town　and　spoilt　my
sleep　of　nights。　Oh！　where　is　your　faith？〃

〃What　is　faith；　Dick？〃

〃The　gift　of　belief；　master。　A　very　great　gift；　seeing　what　a　man
believes　is　and　will　be　true　for　him；　however　false　it　may　prove　for
others。　He　who　believes　nothing；　sows　nothing；　and　therefore　reaps
nothing；　good　or　ill。〃

〃Who　taught　you　these　things；　Dick？〃

〃One　whom　I　am　not　likely　to　forget；　or　you；　either。　One　who　is　my
master　at　archery　and　whose　words；　like　his　arrows；　though　they　be
few；　yet　strike　the　heart　of　hidden　truth。　Oh；　fear　not；　doubtless
sorrow　waits　you　yonder；〃　and　he　pointed　toward　Dunwich。　〃Yet　it　comes
to　my　lips　that　there's　joy　beyond　the　sorrows；　the　joy　of　battle　and
of　lovefor　those　who　care　for　love；　which　I　think　foolishness。　There
stands　a　farm；　and　the　farmer　is　a　friend　of　mine；　or　used　to　be。　Let
us　go　thither　and　feed　these　poor　beasts　and　ourselves；　or　I　think　we
will　never　come　to　Dunwich　through　this　cold　and　snow。　Moreover；〃　he
added　thoughtfully；　〃joy　or　sorrow　or　both　of　them　are　best　met　by
full　men；　and　I　wish　to　look　to　your　harness　and　my　own；　for　sword　and
axe　are　rusted　with　the　sea。　Who　knows　but　that　we　may　need　them　in
Dunwich；　or　beyond；　when　we　meet　with　Murgh；　as　he　promised　that　we
should。〃

So　they　rode　up　to　the　house　and　found　Dick's　friend；　the　farmer；
lying　dead　there　in　his　own　yard；　whither　his　family　had　dragged　him
ere　they　determined　to　fly　the　place。　Still；　there　was　fodder　in　the
stable　and　they　lit　a　fire　in　the　kitchen　hearth　and　drank　of　the　wine
which　they　had　brought　with　them　from　the　ship；　and　ate　of　the　bacon
which　still　hung　from　the　rafters。　This　done；　they　lay　down　to　sleep　a
while。　About　one　in　the　morning；　however；　Hugh　roused　Dick　and　David；
saying　that　he　could　rest　no　more　and　that　something　in　his　heart　bade
him　push　on　to　Dunwich。

〃Then　let　us　follow　your　heart；　master；〃　said　Dick；　yawning。　〃Yet　I
wish　it　had　waited　till　dawn　to　move　you。　Yes；　let　us　follow　your
heart　to　good　or　evil。　David；　go　you　out　and　saddle　up　those　nags。〃

For　Dick　had　worked　late　at　their　mail　and　weapons；　which　now　were
bright　and　sharp　again；　and　was　very　weary。



It　was　after　three　in　the　morning　when　at　length；　leaving　the　heath；
they　rode　up　to　Dunwich　Middlegate；　expecting　to　find　it　shut　against
them　at　such　an　hour。　But　it　stood　open；　nor　did　any　challenge　them
from　the　guardhouse。

〃They　keep　an　ill　watch　in　Dunwich　no