red eve-第6部分

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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　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