her sense came back to her； for a flash she looked me cold yonder in
that English chapel； and it seemed to me that God's curse was in her
stare。〃
〃You've caught the terror； Nicholas； like so many just now in Venice。
Why； to…day I've not met a man or woman who is not afraid of
something； they know not whatsave the Englishman and his death's…
head。 I think 'tis the unwholesome air of this strange season； and all
the signs and omens we hear of on every side that conjure vapours to
the brain。〃
〃Yes； I've the terror；〃 said Nicholas with something like a groan。
〃Every sin I ever didand most of them have been for you； lordseems
to haunt my sleep。 Yes； and to walk with me when I wake； preaching woe
at me with fiery tongues that repentance or absolution cannot quench
or still。〃
〃Yet； Nicholas； I think that you must add one more to their count； or
a share of it； which should weigh light among so many。 Either I or de
Cressi must pack for our last journey； and if we meet face to face
to…morrow； how know I that it will be de Cressi？ Better far that we
should not meet。〃
〃Lord； lord； you cannot fly！ He is King Edward's champion； so
proclaimed before all whose names are written in the Golden Book of
Venice。 He would cry your shame in every Court； and so would they。
There's not a knight in Europe but would spit upon you as a dastard；
or a common wench but would turn you her back！ You cannot fly！〃
〃Nay； fool； but he can dieand before to…morrow。 What makes your
brain so dull； Nicholas？ It is not its wont。〃
〃Ah； I seenot flight； murder。 I had forgotten； it is not a usual
sauce to a banquet of honour even in Italy； and therefore； perhaps；
the safer to serve。 But how is it to be done？ Poison？ He is in
Carleon's house； Carleon has faithful servants。 Though perhaps a
basket of rare fruitsbut then he might not eat them； those
Englishmen live mostly on half…raw meat。 The signora would probably
eat them； and the others。〃
〃Nay； no more of your drugs； your skill in them is too well known。
Come； these men have been watched since they set foot in Venice。 Have
they offended none besides myself and the Swiss？〃
A look of intelligence crept into the eyes of Nicholas。
〃Now that you mention it； lord； they have。 There is a certain boatman
and bravo called Giuseppe。 With him and his mates they quarrelled
about their fare and threw them into the canal in front of the
ambassador's house； just because they drew a knife or two。 A woman I
know told me of it。 He's a great villain； this Giuseppe； who would do
anything for ten pieces； also revengeful and a hater of cold water。〃
〃Send for him； Nicholas； or send this woman to himthat may be safer。
Ten pieces！ I'll pay him fifty。〃
〃Ay； lord； but the Englishman may not give him a chance。 Only fools
would go out walking in Venice along after dark if they should happen
to have enemies here； and the house is watched by the Doge's Guards。
Yet one can try。 Fortune loves the brave； and Englishmen are very
great fools。 They might stroll abroad to see the moon rise over the
Adriatic。〃
〃Try； Nicholas； try as you never tried before。 Succeed； too； lest you
and I should part company and you never be named abbot after all。〃
The afternoon of the day of their reception by the Doge was well
filled for Hugh and Dick。 Scarcely had they eaten with their host when
the Marshal and his officers arrived with the articles of the Morrow's
combat very fully drawn up； each of which must be considered with the
help of Sir Geoffrey Carleon； lest they should hide some trick； before
they confirmed them with their signatures。 Not that Hugh was over…
anxious about the details。 As he said to Sir Geoffrey； all he sought
was to come face to face with his enemy； even if he had but a club for
a weapon。
At length these articles were signed and the Marshal departed with his
fee； for they must be paid for as though they were a legal document。
Next Hugh must try various horses from Sir Geoffrey's stable； and
choose one of them as his war steed for the morrow； since the beast he
had ridden to Venice was in no condition to bear a full…armed knight。
In the end he selected a grey gelding； quiet of temperament and rather
heavy of build； which it was reported had been used by its former
owner in several tournaments and there borne itself handsomely。 This
done； well or ill； his armour must be seen to； and Dick's also； such
as it was； his lance tested； and all their other weapons sharpened on
a whetstone that Sir Geoffrey borrowed。 For this was a task that Grey
Dick would leave to no other hand。
At length all was prepared as well as possible in such haste； and they
went to supper with Lady Carleon； who； now she understood that they
were to fight for their lives on the morrow； was more mournful even
than she had been on the previous night。 When at last she asked what
they desired as to their funerals and if they had any tokens to be
sent to friends in England； Hugh； whose thoughts were already sad
enough； could bear no more of it。 So he rose； saying that he would
seek Sir Geoffrey； who was already in his cabinet engaged upon a
letter to King Edward descriptive of these events and other business。
But when they were out of the room he said that he must have fresh air
or he would faint； which was not strange； seeing that heat prevailed
on this night in Venice of an intensity unknown there at this season
of the year。
〃Whither shall we go？〃 asked Dick； mopping his brow。 〃Guards stand at
the door and； I doubt； will not let us pass。〃
〃I wish to see the place where we are to fight to…morrow；〃 answered
Hugh； 〃so as to form my judgment of it； if only we may come there。〃
At this moment an English lad of Sir Geoffrey's household chanced to
pass by； having come to ask as to the feeding of the horse which Hugh
should ride。 Dick caught him by the arm and asked whether he could get
them out of the house secretly； so that the Guards would not see them；
and conduct them to the spot called the Place of Arms； where they
understood they were to fight。
The lad； whose name was David Day； replied somewhat doubtfully that he
could do so by a back door near the kitchen； and guide them also； but
that they must protect him from the anger of Sir Geoffrey。 This Hugh
promised to do。 So presently they started； carrying their weapons； but
wearing no mail because of the intense heat； although Dick reminded
his master how they had been told that they should not venture forth
without body armour。
〃I have a sword and you have bow and axe；〃 answered Hugh； 〃so we'll
risk it。 In leather…lined mail we should surely melt。〃
So they put on some light cloaks made of black silk； with hoods to
them； such as the Venetians wore at their masques； for David knew
where these were to be found。 Slipping out quite unobserved by the
kitchen door into a little courtyard； they passed into an unlighted
back street through a postern gate whereof the lad had the key。 At the
end of the street they came to a canal； where David； who talked
Italian perfectly； hailed a boat； into which they entered without
exciting remark。 For this sharp youth pointed to their cloaks and told
the boatman that they were gallants engaged upon some amorous
adventure。
On they rowed down the silent lanes of water； through the slumbrous
city of palaces； turning here； turning there； till soon they lost all
knowledge of the direction in which they headed。 At length David
whispered to them that they drew near the place where they must land。
Everybody seemed to speak in a whisper that heavy night； even the
folk； generally so light of heart and quick of tongue； who sat on the
steps or beneath the porticoes of their houses gasping for air； and
the passers…by on the /rivas/ or footwalks that bordered the canals。
At a sign from David the boat turned inward and grated against the
steps of a marble quay。 He paid the boatman； who seemed to have no
energy left to dispute the fare； telling him in the same low voice
that if he cared to wait he might perhaps row them back within an hour
or so。 Then they climbed steps and entered a narrow street where there
was no canal； on either side of which stood tall houses or dark
frowning gateways。
Just as they stepped into the shadow of this street they heard the
prow of another boat grate against the marble steps behind them and
caught the faint sound of talk； apparently between their rower and
others in the second boat。
〃Forward； Sir Hugh；〃 said Day a little nervously。 〃This part of Venice
has no good name； for many wicked deeds are done here； but soon we
shall be through it。〃
So they stepped out briskly； and when they were about half…way down
the street heard other steps behind them。 They turned and looked back
through the gloom； whereon the sound of the following steps died away。
They pushed on again； and so； unless the echo deceived them； did those
quick； stealthy steps。 Then； as though by common consent； though no
one gave the word； they broke into a run and gained the end of the
street； which they now saw led into a large open space lit by the
light of the great moon； that broke suddenly through the veil of cloud
or mist。 Again； as though by common consent； they wheeled round； Hugh
drawing his sword； and perceived emerging from the street six or seven
cloaked fellows； who； on catching sight of the flash of steel； halted
and melted back into the gloom。
〃Who follow us so fast？〃 asked Hugh。
〃Thieves； I think；〃 answered David； even more nervously than before；
adding； 〃but if so； we are safe from them here。〃
〃Yes； sure enough；〃 said Grey Dick； 〃for I can shoot by moonlight；〃
and； drawing the black bow from its case； which he threw to the lad to
carry； he strung it； after which they saw no more of their pursuers。
Having waited a while； they began to examine the spot where they found
themselves； which Day told them was that Place of Arms where they must
fight on the morrow。 It was large and level； having been used as a
drilling ground for generations。 Perhaps it measured four hundred
yards square； and almost in the centre of it rose a stand of painted
timber roofed with canvas； and ornamented with gilded flagstaffs； from
which hung ba