wind。 Presently above this whispering a soft yet penetrating voice was
heard to say：
〃If this English knight desires to study the poor face of Acour； de
Noyon； and Cattrina； he who owns it is much honoured and prays your
Excellency's leave to wait upon his pleasure。〃
So saying a tall and noble…looking man； who wore the badge of a white
swan worked in pearls upon his rich tunic； stepped forward out of the
ring of courtiers and bowed； first to the Doge and next to Hugh。
De Cressi looked at his handsome face with its quick dark eyes and
little； square…cut； black beard； and answered：
〃I thank you； Sir Edmund Acour； for I take it you are he。 Now I shall
never forget you again； for though a man may shift his armour he
cannot change his countenance〃a saying at which de Noyon coloured a
little and looked down uneasily。
〃Cavalier de Cressi； he whom you seek is before you； we ourselves
vouch for his identity；〃 said the Doge。 〃Now be pleased to set out
your case。〃
〃My private case I thrust to one side；〃 answered Hugh； Sir Geoffrey
interpreting all the time； 〃for it is a matter between this Count； a
certain lady and myself； and can wait。 That which I have to lay before
you； Illustrious； has to do with my master the King of England； as
whose champion I am here to…day。 I accuse this lord of the three names
of black treachery to his august liege； Edward； all details of which
treason I am prepared to furnish； and on behalf of that most puissant
monarch I challenge him to single combat； as I am empowered and
commissioned to do。〃
〃Why should I fight the King of England's bravoes？〃 inquired Acour in
a languid voice of those who stood about him； a question at which they
laughed。
〃If the charge of treason is not sufficient；〃 went on Hugh； 〃I'll add
to it one of cowardice。 At the battle of Crecy； as a man here will
bear me witness；〃 and he pointed to Dick； 〃I overcame in single combat
a knight who wore upon his shield the cognizance of a wolf and on his
helm a wolf's head； which were the arms of Sir Pierre de la Roche。 At
this knight's prayer I spared his life； for that day we took no
prisoners； and let him go。 Afterward I fought with another knight
carrying the cognizance of a white swan； the arms of the Count de
Noyon； and slew him in fair and single fight。 But before he died he
told me that he bore that armour by command of his lord； the Count de
Noyon； and that the said Count fought that day in his mail because he
feared the vengeance of the King of England and my own。 Thus it came
about that the Wolf who fought paid the price for the Swan who fled
away； hid in the armour of his friend； whom he left to die for him。〃
There followed a great silence； for all those noble lords and ladies
who thought little of treason； which to most of them was a very
familiar thing； were not a little stirred by this tale of cowardice
and false arms。 The Doge said：
〃Noble Cattrina； you have heard the story of the English knight。 What
do you answer to it？〃
〃Only that it is a lie； Illustrious； like everything else that he has
told us；〃 replied Acour with a shrug of his broad shoulders。
〃You said that you had a witness； Cavalier de Cressi；〃 said the Doge。
〃Where is he？〃
〃Here；〃 answered Hugh。 〃Stand forward； Dick； and tell what you saw。〃
Dick obeyed； and in his low； rasping voice； with more detail than Hugh
had given； set out the story of those two combats at Crecy； of the
sparing of the wolf knight and the slaying of the swan knight。
〃What say you now； noble Cattrina？〃 asked the Doge。
〃I say that the man lies even better than his master；〃 answered Acour
coolly； and all the Court laughed。
〃Illustrious；〃 said Hugh； 〃doubtless you have some herald at your
Court。 I pray that he may fetch his book and tell us what are the arms
of de Noyon and Cattrina； with all their colourings and details。〃
The Doge beckoned to an officer in a broidered tabard； who with bows；
without needing to fetch any book； described the crest and arms of
Cattrina in full particular。 He added that； to his knowledge； these
were borne by no other family or man in Italy； France； or England。
〃Then you would know them if you saw them？〃 said Hugh。
〃Certainly； cavalier。 On it I stake my repute as a herald。〃
Now while all wondered what this talk might mean； the Doge and Acour
most of any； although the latter grew uneasy； fearing he knew not
what； Hugh whispered to Dick。 Then Dick loosed the mouth of the
leather sack he carried； and out of it tumbled on to the marble floor
a whole suit of blood…stained armour。
〃Whence came these？〃 asked Hugh of Dick。
〃Off the body of the night； Sir Pierre de la Roche； whom you slew at
Crecy。 I stripped him of them myself。〃
〃Whose crest and cognizance are these； herald？〃 asked Hugh again；
lifting the helm and shield and holding them on high that all might
see。
The herald stepped forward and examined them。
〃Without doubt；〃 he said slowly； 〃they are those of the lord of
Cattrina。 Moreover；〃 he added； 〃five years ago I limned yonder swan
upon this very shield with my own hand。 I did it as a favour to
Cattrina there； who said that he would trust the task to none but an
artist。〃
Now the silence grew intense； so much so that the rustle of a lady's
dress sounded loud in the great hall。
〃What say you now； my lord of Cattrina？〃 asked the Doge。
〃I say that there is some mistake； Illustrious。 Even if there were
none；〃 he added slowly； 〃for their own good and lawful purposes
knights have changed armour before to…day。〃
〃There is no mistake！〃 cried Hugh in a ringing voice。 〃This signor of
so many names is a signor of many coats also； which he can change to
save his skin。 He wore that of Sir Pierre de la Roche to protect
himself from the vengeance of the King of England and of the English
squire whom he had wronged。 He took mercy from the hand of that
squire； who； as he knew well； would have shown him none had he guessed
the truth。 He left the poor knight； whom he had bribed to be his
double； to die beneath that same squire's hand who thought him named
de Noyon。 Therefore the blood of this de la Roche is on his head。 Yet
these are small matters of private conduct； and one that is greater
overtops them。 This false lord； as Sir Edmund Acour； swore fealty to
Edward of England。 Yet while he was bound by that sacred oath he
plotted to depose Edward and to set up on his throne the Duke of
Normandy。
〃The King of England learned of that plot through me； and gave me
charge to kill or capture the traitor。 But when we came face to face
in a consecrated church where I thought it sacrilege to draw sword；
he； who had just done me bitter wrong； stayed not to answer the wrong。
He slunk away into the darkness； leaving me felled by a treacherous
blow。 Thence he fled to France and stirred up war against his liege
lord under the Oriflamme of King Philip。 Now that this banner is in
the dust he has fled again to Venice； and here； as I have heard；
broods more mischief。 Once； when after the sack of Caen I sent him my
challenge； he returned to me an insolent answer that he did not fight
with merchants' sonshe who could take mercy from the hand of a
merchant's son。
〃Now that for deeds done a King has made me knight； and now that this
King under his seal and sign has named me his champion； in your
presence； Illustrious； and in that of all your Court； I challenge
Cattrina again to single combat to the death with lance and sword and
dagger。 Yes； and I name him coward and scullion if he refuses this；
King Edward's gage and mine；〃 and drawing the gauntlet from his left
hand； Hugh cast it clattering to the marble floor at de Noyon's feet。
A babel of talk broke out in the great hall； and with it some /vivas/
and clapping of hands； for Hugh had spoken boldly and well； moreover；
the spectators read truth in his grey eyes。 A dark figure in priest's
robeit was that of Father Nicholas； the secretary who had brewed Red
Eve's potionglided up to Cattrina and whispered swiftly in his ear。
Then the Doge lifted his hand and there was silence。
〃My lord of Cattrina；〃 he said； 〃Sir Hugh de Cressi； speaking as the
champion of our ally； the King of England； has challenged you to
single combat /？outrance/。 What say you？〃
〃I； Illustrious？〃 he answered in his rich voice； drawling out his
words like one who is weary。 〃Oh； of course； I say that if yon brawler
wishes to find a grave in fair Venice； which is more than he deserves；
I am not the man to thwart him； seeing that his cut…throat King〃
〃As the ambassador of that King I protest；〃 broke in Sir Geoffrey。 〃It
is an insult that such a word should be used before me。〃
〃I accept the protest of his Excellency； who forgot his noble
presence；〃 replied Cattrina bowing back。 〃Seeing that his King； who is
not a cut…throat〃here a titter of laughter went through the company；
though it was evident from the frown upon his face that the Doge liked
the jest ill〃has chosen to make a knight of this de Cressi。 Or so he
says； which will show you； friends all； how hard it must be to find
gentlemen in England。〃
Again the company tittered； though Dick's grey face turned scarlet and
he bit upon his pale lip until the blood ran。
〃As you accept the challenge；〃 broke in the Doge shortly； 〃cease from
gibes； my lord； which more befit an angry woman's mouth than that of
one whose life is about to be put to hazard； and take up the gage of
his Grace of England。〃
Cattrina looked round and bade a page who waited on his person obey
the Doge's command； saying：
〃Your pardon； most Illustrious； if I do not touch that glove myself；
as it seems somewhat foul。 I think it must have served its owner in
his useful labours at the dyer's vat before his master made him
noble。〃
Now it was Hugh's turn to colour； but when he understood the insult
Grey Dick could contain himself no more。
〃Ay； Sir Cheat and Traitor；〃 he said in his hissing voice。 〃The vat in
which it has been dipped was that of the life…blood of your dupe； Sir
Pierre de la Roche； and of many a nobler Norman。 Oh； did we not stand
where we do I'd thrust it down your false throat； and with it twist
out your slanderous tongue。〃
〃Peace； peace！〃 cried