who； after what I have learned of Father Nicholas and others； love but
one priest； and he far away。〃
〃Yet it is well to have the blessings of Holy Church ere such a
business as ours； Dick； that is； if it can be come by。〃
〃Mayhap； master。 But for my part I am content with that of Murgh；
which he gave us； you may remember； or so I understood him。 Moreover；
did he not teach that he and all are but ministers of Him above？
Therefore I go straight to the head of the stair；〃 and he nodded
toward the sky。 〃I am content to skip all those steps which are called
priests and altars and popes and saints and such…like folk； living or
dead。 If Murgh's wisdom be true； as I think； these are but garnishings
to the dish which can well be spared by the hungry soul。〃
〃That may be；〃 Hugh answered dubiously； for his faith in such matters
was that of his time。 〃Yet were I you； Dick； I'd not preach that
philosophy too loud lest the priests and popes should have something
to say to it。 The saints also； for aught I know； since I have always
heard that they love not to be left out of our account with heaven。〃
〃Well； if so；〃 answered Dick； 〃I'll quote St。 Murgh to them； who is a
very fitting patron for an archer。〃 Then once again he glanced at the
helm and the arrow with something not unlike fear in his cold eye。
Presently they went down to the eating chamber where they had been
told that breakfast would be ready for them at seven of the clock。
There they found Sir Geoffrey awaiting them。
〃I trust that you have slept well； Sir Hugh；〃 he said。 〃You were a
wise knight to go to rest so early； having before you such a trial of
your strength and manhood； and； so to speak； the honour of our King
upon your hands。〃
〃Very well indeed； thank you； sir；〃 answered Hugh。 〃And you？〃
〃Oh； ill； extremely ill。 I do not know what is the matter with me or
Venice either； whereof the very air seems poisoned。 Feel the heat and
see the haze！ It is most unnatural。 Moreover； although in your bed
doubtless you saw it not； a great ball of fire blazed and burnt over
the city last night。 So bright was it that even in a darkened room
each of us could see the colour of the other's eyes。 Later； too； as I
watched at the window； there came a thin streak of flame that seemed
to alight on or about this very house。 Indeed I thought I heard a
sound as of iron striking upon iron； but could find no cause for it。〃
〃Wondrous happenings； sir；〃 said Grey Dick。 〃Glad am I that we were
not with you； lest the sight of them should have made us fearful on
this morning of combat。〃
〃Wondrous happenings indeed； friend Richard；〃 said Sir Geoffrey
excitedly； 〃but you have not heard the half of them。 The herald； who
has just been here with the final articles of your fray signed by the
Doge and Cattrina； has told me much that I can scarce believe。 He says
that the great galley from this port which is called /Light of the
East/ drifted up to the quay at the Place of Arms last night on her
return voyage from Cyprus； filled with dead and with no living thing
aboard her save the devil himself in a yellow robe and a many…hued
head…dress like a cock's…comb with a red eye。 He swears that this
fiend landed and that the mob set on him； whereon two； some say three；
other devils clad in long black gowns appeared out of the water and
drove them back。 Also； it seems that this same cock's…combed Satan
stole a boat and rowed about the city afterward； but now none can find
him； although they have got the boat。〃
〃Then they should be well satisfied；〃 said Hugh； 〃since its owner has
lost nothing but the hire； which with Satan at the oars is better than
might be hoped。 Perhaps he was not there after all； Sir Geoffrey。〃
〃I know not； but at least the galley /Light of the East/ is there； for
ever since the dawn they have been taking the dead out of her to bury
them。 Of these they say things too terrible to repeat； for no doctor
can tell of what sickness they died； never having seen its like。 For
my part I pray it may not be catching。 Were I the Doge I would have
towed her out to sea and scuttled her； cargo and all。 Well； well；
enough of these wild tales； of which God alone knows the truth。 Come；
eat； if you can in this heat。 We must be on the Place of Arms by half…
past eight。 You and the captain go thither in my own boat； Sir Hugh；
your horse David Day takes on presently。 Now； while you breakfast；
I'll explain to you these articles； one by one； for they are writ in
Italian； which you cannot read。 See you forget them not。 These
Venetians are punctilious of such forms and ceremonies； especially
when the case is that of combat to the death； which is rare among
them。〃
The articles； which were lengthy； had been read； and the breakfast； or
so much as they could eat of it； consumed。 At last Hugh； accompanied
by a Venetian squire of high birth sent by the Doge to bear his casque
and other armour； stood in the vestibule waiting for the ambassador's
barge of state。 With him was Grey Dick； accompanied by no one and
carrying the mail shirt in which he was to fight； like a housewife's
parcel beneath his arm； although he wore bow on back； axe and dagger
at side and iron cap upon his head。
Presently； while they lingered thus； out from a side…door appeared
Lady Carleon； clothed in a white garment such as women wear when their
dressing is half done； down which her grey hair hung dishevelled。
〃I am come thus unkempt； Sir Hugh；〃 she said； 〃for； not feeling well；
I could not rise early； to bid you good…bye； since I am sure that we
shall not meet again。 However much that black…browed Doge may press
it； I cannot go down yonder to see my countrymen butchered in this
heat。 Oh！ oh！〃 and she pressed her hand upon her heart。
〃What's the matter； madam？〃 asked Hugh anxiously。
〃A pain in my breast； that is all； as though some one drove a dagger
through me。 There； there； 'tis gone。〃
〃I thank you for your goodness； Lady Carleon；〃 said Hugh when she was
herself again； then paused； for he knew not what to add。
〃Not so； Sir Hugh； not so； 'tis for your sakes in truth since you
remember you never told me what you would wish doneafterward。 Your
possessions alsowhere are they to be sent？ Doubtless you have money
and other things of value。 Be sure that they shall be sealed up。 I'll
see to it myself； buthow shall I dispose of them？〃
〃Madame； I will tell you when I return；〃 said Hugh shortly。
〃Nay； nay； Sir Hugh； pray do not return。 Those who are gone had best
keep gone； I think； who always have had a loathing of ghosts。
Therefore； I beg you； tell me now； but do not come back shining like a
saint and gibbering like a monkey at dead of night； because if you do
I am sure I shall not understand； and if there is an error； who will
set it straight？〃
Hugh leaned against a marble pillar in the hall and looked at his
hostess helplessly； while Sir Geoffrey； catching her drift at length；
broke in：
〃Cease such ill…omened talk； wife。 Think you that it is of a kind to
give brave men a stomach in a fight to the end？〃
〃I know not； Geoffrey； but surely 'tis better to have these matters
settled； for； as you often say； death is always near us。〃
〃Ay； madam；〃 broke in Grey Dick； who could bear no more of it； 〃death
is always near to all of us； and especially so in Venice just now。
Therefore； I pray you tell mein case we should live and /you/ should
die； you and all about youwhether you have any commands to give as
to what should be done with your gold and articles of value； or any
messages to leave for friends in England。〃
Then； having uttered this grim jest； Dick took his master by the arm
and drew him through the door。
Afterward； for a reason that shall be told； he was sorry that it had
ever passed his lips。 Still in the boat Sir Geoffrey applauded him；
saying that his lady's melancholy had grown beyond all bearing； and
that she did little but prate to him about his will and what colour of
marble he desired for his tomb。
After a journey that seemed long to Hugh； who wished to have this
business over； they came to the Place of Arms。 Their route there；
however； was not the same which they had followed on the previous
night。 Leaving the short way through the low part of the town
untraversed； they rowed from one of the canals into the harbour
itself； where they were joined by many other boats which waited for
them and so on to the quay。 Hugh saw at once that the death ship；
/Light of the East/； was gone； and incautiously said as much to Sir
Geoffrey。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃one of my rowers tells me that they have towed
her to an island out at sea； since the stench from her holds was more
than could be borne。 But how did you know that she lay at this
particular quay； Sir Hugh？〃
〃I thought you said so；〃 he answered carelessly； adding； to change the
subject： 〃Look； our fray will not lack for spectators；〃 and he pointed
to the thousands gathered upon the great tilting…ground。
〃No； no； all Venice will be there； for these people love a show；
especially if there be death in it。〃
〃Mayhap they will see more of him than they wish before all is done；〃
muttered Grey Dick； pausing from the task of whetting his axe's edge
with a little stone which he carried in his pouch。 Then he replaced
the axe in its hanger； and； drawing Hugh's sword from its sheath；
began to give some final touches to its razor edge； saying： 〃Father
Sir Andrew Arnold blessed it； which should be enough； but Milan steel
is hard and his old battle blade will bite none the worse for an extra
sharpening。 Go for his throat； master； go for his throat； the mail is
always thinnest there。〃
〃God above us； what a grim man！〃 exclaimed Sir Geoffrey； and so
thought all in that boat and in those around them。 At least they
looked at Dick askance as he whetted and whetted； and then； plucking
out one of the pale hairs from his head； drew it along the edge of the
steel； which severed it in twain。
〃There！ That'll do；〃 said Grey Dick cheerfully； as he returned the
long sword to its sheath； 〃and God help this Cattrina； I say； for he
comes to his last battle。 That is； unless he runs away；〃 he added
after reflection。
Now they landed and were received