red eve- 第46部分

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XVII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　MEETING

Hugh；　Grey　Dick；　and　David；　trudged　up　and　down　through　the　streets　of
Avignon。　All　that　long　day　they　trudged　seeking　news　and　finding
little。　Again　and　again　they　asked　at　the　inns　whether　a　knight　who
bore　the　name　of　Acour；　or　de　Noyon；　or　Cattrina；　was　or　had　been　a
guest　there；　but　none　whom　they　asked　seemed　to　know　anything　of　such
a　person。

They　asked　it　of　citizens；　also　of　holy　priests；　good　men　who；
careless　of　their　own　lives；　followed　biers　or　cartloads　of　dead
destined　to　the　plague　pit　or　the　river　that　they　might　pronounce　over
them　the　last　blessings　of　the　Church。　They　asked　it　of　physicians；
some　few　of　whom　still　remained　alive；　as　they　hurried　from　house　to
house　to　administer　to　the　sick　or　dying。　But　all　of　these　either　did
not　answer　at　all　or　else　shrugged　their　shoulders　and　went　on　their
melancholy　business。　Only　one　of　them　called　back　that　he　had　no　time
to　waste　in　replying　to　foolish　questions；　and　that　probably　the
knight　they　sought　was　dead　long　ago　or　had　fled　from　the　city。

Another　man；　an　officer　of　customs；　who　seemed　half　dazed　with　misery
and　fear；　said　that　he　remembered　the　lord　Cattrina　entering　Avignon
with　a　good　many　followers；　since　he　himself　had　levied　the　customary
tolls　on　his　company。　As　for　how　long　it　was　ago　he　could　not　say；
since　his　recollection　failed　himso　much　had　happened　since。　So　he
bade　them　farewell　until　they　met　in　heaven；　which；　he　added；
doubtless　would　be　soon。

The　evening　drew　on。　Wearily　enough　they　had　trudged　round　the　great
Roche　des　Doms；　looking　up　at　the　huge　palace　of　the　Pope；　where　the
fires　burned　night　and　day　and　the　guards　watched　at　the　shut　gates；
that　forbidden　palace　into　which　no　man　might　enter。　Leaving　it；　they
struck　down　a　street　that　was　new　to　them；　which　led　toward　their
borrowed　dwelling　of　the　Bride's　Tower。　This　street　was　very　empty
save　for　a　few　miserable　creatures；　some　of　whom　lay　dead　or　dying　in
the　gutters。　Others　lurked　about　in　doorways　or　behind　the　pillars　of
gates；　probably　for　no　good　purpose。　They　heard　the　footsteps　of　a　man
following　them　who　seemed　to　keep　in　the　shadow；　but　took　no　heed；
since　they　set　him　down　as　some　wretched　thief　who　would　never　dare　to
attack　three　armed　men。　It　did　not　occur　to　them　that　this　was　none
other　than　the　notary　Basil；　clad　in　a　new　robe；　who　for　purposes　of
his　own　was　spying　upon　their　movements。

They　came　to　a　large；　ruinous…looking　house；　of　which　the　gateway
attracted　Grey　Dick's　sharp　eyes。

〃What　does　that　entrance　remind　you　of；　master？〃　he　asked。

Hugh　looked　at　it　carelessly　and　answered：

〃Why；　of　the　Preceptory　at　Dunwich。　See；　there　are　the　same　arms　upon
the　stone　shield。　Doubtless　once　the　Knights　Templar　dwelt　there。　Sir
Andrew　may　have　visited　this　place　in　his　youth。〃

As　the　words　left　his　lips　two　men　came　out　of　the　gateway；　one　of
them　a　physician　to　judge　by　the　robe　and　the　case　of　medicines　which
he　carried；　the　other　a　very　tall　person　wrapped　in　a　long　cloak。　The
physician　was　speaking。

〃She　may　live　or　she　may　die；〃　he　said。　〃She　seems　strong。　The　pest；
you　say；　has　been　on　her　for　four　days；　which　is　longer　than　most
endure　it；　she　has　no　swellings；　and　has　not　bled　from　the　lungs；
though；　on　the　other　hand；　she　is　now　insensible；　which　often　precedes
the　end。　I　can　say　no　more；　it　is　in　the　hands　of　God。　Yes；　I　will　ask
you　to　pay　me　the　fee　now。　Who　knows　if　you　will　be　alive　to　do　so
to…morrow？　If　she　dies　before　then　I　recommend　you　to　throw　her　into
the　river；　which　the　Pope　has　blessed。　It　is　cleaner　burial　than　the
plague　pit。　I　presume　she　is　your　grand…daughtera　beautiful　woman。
Pity　she　should　be　wasted　thus；　but　many　others　are　in　a　like　case。　If
she　awakes　give　her　good　food；　and　if　you　cannot　get　thatwine；　of
which　there　is　plenty。　Five　gold　piecesthank　you；〃　and　he　hurried
away。

〃Little　have　you　told　me；　physician；　that　I　did　not　know　already；〃
said　the　tall　hooded　figure；　in　a　deep　voice　the　sound　of　which
thrilled　Hugh　to　his　marrow。　〃Yet　you　are　right；　it　is　in　the　hands　of
God。　And　to　those　hands　I　trustnot　in　vain；　I　think。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　Hugh　addressing　him　out　of　the　shadow　in　which　he　stood；
〃be　pleased　to　tell　me；　if　you　will；　whether　you　have　met　in　this　town
a　knight　of　the　name　of　Sir　Edmund　Acour；　for　of　him　I　am　in　search？〃

〃Sir　Edmund　Acour？〃　answered　the　figure。　〃No；　I　have　not　met　him　in
Avignon；　though　it　is　like　enough　that　he　is　here。　Yet　I　have　known　of
this　knight　far　away　in　England。〃

〃Was　it　at　Blythburgh；　in　Suffolk；　perchance？〃　asked　Hugh。

〃Ay；　at　Blythburgh　in　Suffolk；　but　who　are　you　that　speak　in　English
and　know　of　Blythburgh　in　Suffolk？〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Hugh；　〃what　do　you　here；　Sir　Andrew　Arnold？〃

The　old　man　threw　back　his　hood　and　stared　at　him。

〃Hugh　de　Cressi；　by　Christ's　holy　Name！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Yes；　and
Richard　the　archer；　also。　The　light　is　bad；　I　did　not　see　your　faces。
Welcome；　Hugh；　thrice　welcome；〃　and　he　threw　his　arms　about　him　and
embraced　him。　〃Come；　enter　my　lodgings；　I　have　much　to　say　to　you。〃

〃One　thing　I　desire　to　learn　most　of　all；　Father；　the　rest　can　wait。
Who　is　the　sick　lady　of　whom　you　spoke　to　yonder　physicianshe　that；
he　thought；　was　your　grand…daughter？〃

〃Who　could　it　be；　Hugh；　except　Eve　Clavering。〃

〃Eve！〃　gasped　Hugh。　〃Eve　dying　of　the　pest？〃

〃Nay；　son：　who　said　so？　She　is　ill；　not　dying；　who；　I　believe；　will
live　for　many　years。〃

〃You　believe；　Father；　you　believe！　Why　this　foul　plague　scarce　spares
one　in　ten。　Oh！　why　do　you　believe？〃

〃God　teaches　me　to　do　so；〃　answered　the　old　knight　solemnly。　〃I　only
sent　for　that　physician　because　he　has　medicines　which　I　lack。　But　it
is　not　in　him　and　his　drugs　that　I　put　my　trust。　Come；　let　us　go　in
and　see　her。〃

So　they　went　up　the　stairs　and　turned　down　a　long　passage；　into　which
the　light　flowed　dimly　through　large　open　casements。

〃Who　is　that？〃　asked　Hugh　suddenly。　〃I　thought　that　one　brushed　past
me；　though　I　could　see　nothing。〃

〃Ay；〃　broke　in　the　lad　David；　who　was　following；　〃and　I　felt　a　cold
wind　as　though　some　one　stirred　the　air。〃

Grey　Dick　also　opened　his　lips　to　speak；　then　changed　his　mind　and　was
silent；　but　Sir　Andrew　said　impatiently：

〃I　saw　no　one；　therefore　there　was　no　one　to　see。　Enter！〃　and　he
opened　the　door。

Now　they　found　themselves　in　a　lighted　room；　beyond　which　lay　another
room。

〃Bide　you　here；　Richard；　with　your　companion；〃　said　Sir　Andrew。　〃Hugh；
follow　me；　and　let　us　learn　whether　I　have　trusted　to　God　in　vain。〃

Then　very　gently　he　opened　the　door；　and　they　passed　in　together；
closing　it　behind　them。

This　is　what　Hugh　saw。　At　the　far　end　of　the　room　was　a　bed；　near　to
which　stood　a　lamp　that　showed；　sitting　up　in　the　bed；　a　beautiful
young　woman；　whose　dark　hair　fell　all　about　her。　Her　face　was　flushed
but　not　wasted　or　made　dreadful　by　the　sickness；　as　happened　to　so
many。　There　she　sat　staring　before　her　with　her　large　dark　eyes　and　a
smile　upon　her　sweet　lips；　like　one　that　muses　on　happy　things。

〃See；〃　whispered　Sir　Andrew；　〃she　is　awakened　from　her　swoon。　I　think
I　did　not　trust　in　vain；　my　son。〃

She　caught　the　tones　of　his　voice　and　spoke。

〃Is　that　you；　Father？〃　she　asked　dreamily。　〃Draw　near；　for　I　have　such
a　strange　story　to　tell　you。〃

He　obeyed；　leaving　Hugh　in　the　shadow；　and　she　went　on：

〃Just　now　I　awoke　from　my　sleep　and　saw　a　man　standing　by　my　bed。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　Sir　Andrew　said；　〃the　physician　whom　I　sent　for　to　see
you。〃

〃Do　physicians　in　Avignon　wear　caps　of　red　and　yellow　and　robes　of
black　fur　and　strings　of　great　black　pearls　that；　to　tell　truth；　I
coveted　sorely？〃　she　asked；　laughing　a　little。　〃No；　no。　If　this　were　a
physician；　he　is　of　the　sort　that　heals　souls。　Indeed；　now　that　I
think　of　it；　when　I　asked　him　his　name　and　business；　he　answered　that
the　first　was　the　Helper；　and　the　second；　to　bring　peace　to　those　in
trouble。〃

〃Well；　daughter；　and　what　else　did　the　man　say？〃　asked　Sir　Andrew；
soothingly。

〃You　think　I　wander；〃　she　said；　interpreting　the　tone　of　his　voice　and
not　his　words；　〃but　indeed　it　is　not　so。　Well；　he　said　little；　only
that　I　had　been　very　ill；　near　to　death；　in　truth；　much　nearer　than　I
thought；　but　that　now　I　should　recover　and　within　a　day　or　two　be
quite　well　and　strong　again。　I　asked　him　why　he　had　come　to　tell　me
this。　He　replied；　because　he　thought　that　I　should　like　to　know　that
he　had　met　one　whom　I　loved　in　the　city　of　Venice　in　Italy；　one　who
was　named　Hugh　de　Cressi。　Yes；　Father；　he　said　Hugh　de　Cressi；　who；
with　his　squire；　an　archer；　had　befriended　him　thereand　that　this
Hugh　was　well　and　would　remain　so；　and　that　soon　I　should　see　him
again。　Also　he　added　that　he　had　met　one　whom　I　hated；　who　was　named
the　lord　of　Cattrina；　and　that　if　this　Cattrina　threatened　me　I　should
do　wisely　to　fly　back　to　England；　since　there　I　should　find　peace　and
safety。　Then；　suddenly；　just　before　you　came　in；　he　was　gone。〃

〃You　have　strange　dreams；　Eve；〃　said　Sir　Andrew；　〃yet　there　is　truth
in　their　madness。　Now　be　strong　lest　joy　should　kill　you；　as　it　has
done　by　many　a　one　before。〃

Then　he　turned　to　the　shadow　behind　him　and　said；　〃Come。〃　Next　instant
Hugh　was　kneeling　at　Eve's　bedside　and　pressing　his　lips　upon　her
hand。



Oh！　they　had　much　to　say　to　each　other；　so　much　that　the　half　of　it
remained　unsaid。　Still　Hugh　learned　that　she　and　Sir　Andrew　had　come
to　Avignon　upon　the　Pope's　summons　to　lay　this　matter　of　her　alleged
marriage　before　him　in　person。　When　they　reached　the　town　they　found
it　already　in　the　grip　of　the　great　plague；　and　that　to　see　his
Holiness　was　almost　impossible；　since　he　had　shut　himself　up　in　his
palace　and　would　admit　no　one。　Yet　an　interview　was　promised　through
Sir　Andrew's　high…placed　friends；　only　then　the　sickness　struck　Eve
and　she　could　not　go；　nor　was　Sir　Andrew　allowed　to　do　so；　since　he
was　nursing　one　who　lay　ill。

Then　Hugh　began　to　tell　his　tale；　to　which　Eve　and　Sir　Andrew　Arnold
listened　greedily。　Of　Murgh；　for　sundry　reasons；　he　said　nothing；　and
of　the　fight　from　which　Acour　had　fled　in　Venice　before　t