to stand helpless in the hands of cruel men。 Nay； thank me not。 What
need have I of your thanks； which are due to God alone！ And question
me not； for why should I answer your questions； even if I know those
answers？ Only do my bidding。 This night seek whom you will in Avignon；
but to…morrow ere the dawn ride away； for we three must meet again at
a place appointed before this winter's snows are passed。〃
〃O dread lord of Death； one thing； only one；〃 began Hugh。
But Murgh held up his white…gloved hand and replied：
〃Have I not said that I answer no questions？ Now go forth and follow
the promptings of your heart till we meet again。〃
Then gliding to the head of the stair he vanished in the shadow。
〃Say； what shall we do？〃 asked Hugh in amazed voice。
〃It matters little what we do or leave undone； master； seeing that we
are fore…fated men whom； as I think； none can harm until a day that
will not dawn to…morrow nor yet awhile。 Therefore let us wash
ourselves and eat and borrow new garments； if we can find any that are
not soiled； and then； if the horses are still unharmed； mount and ride
from this accursed Avignon for England。〃
〃Nay； Dick； since first we must learn whether or no we leave friends
behind us here。〃
〃Ay； master； if you will。 But since yonder Murgh said nothing of them；
it was in my mind that they are either dead or fled。〃
〃Not dead； I pray； Dick。 Oh； I am sure； not dead； and I left living！
When Red Eve and I met； Murgh had been with her and promised that she
would recover and be strong；〃 answered Hugh bravely； although there
was a note of terror in his voice。
〃Red Eve has other foes in Avignon besides the pest；〃 muttered Grey
Dick； adding： 〃still； let us have faith； it is a good friend to man。
Did not yonder Helper chide us for our lack of it？〃
They forced a way down the dead…cumbered tower stair； crawling through
the darkness over the bodies of the fallen。 They crossed the hall that
also was full of dead； and of wounded whose pitiful groans echoed from
the vaulted roof； and climbed another stair to their chamber in the
gateway tower。 Here from a spark of fire that still smouldered on the
hearth； they lit the lamps of olive…oil and by the light of them
washed off the stains of battle； and refreshed themselves with food
and wine。 These things done； Dick returned to the hall and presently
brought thence two suits of armour and some cloaks which he had taken
either from the walls or from off the slain。 In these they disguised
themselves as best they could； as de Noyon had disguised himself at
Crecy。
Then； having collected a store of arrows whereof many lay about； they
departed by the back entrance。 The great front doorway was so choked
with corpses that they could not pass it； since here had raged the
last fearful struggle to escape。 Going to the little stable…yard；
where they found their horses unharmed in the stalls； although
frightened by the tumult and stiff from lack of exercise； they fed and
saddled them and led them out。 So presently they looked their last
upon the Bride's Tower that had sheltered them so well。
〃It has served our turn；〃 said Hugh； glancing back at it from the
other side of the deserted square； 〃but oh； I pray heaven that we may
never see that charnel…house again！〃
As he spoke a figure appeared from the shadow of a doorway； and ran
toward them。 Thinking it was that of some foe； Dick lifted his axe to
cut him down； whereon a voice cried in English：
〃Hold！ I am David！〃
〃David！〃 exclaimed Hugh。 〃Then thanks be to God； for know； we thought
you dead these many days。〃
〃Ay； sir；〃 answered the young man； 〃as I thought you。 The rumour
reached the Jews； among whom I have been hiding while I recovered of
my hurts； that the Mad Monk and his fellows had stormed the tower and
killed you both。 Therefore I crept out to learn for myself。 Now I have
found you by your voices； who never again hoped to look upon you
living；〃 and he began to sob in his relief and joy。
〃Come on； lad；〃 said Grey Dick kindly； 〃this is no place for
greetings。〃
〃Whither go you； sir？〃 asked David as he walked forward alongside of
the horses。
〃To seek that house where we saw Sir Andrew Arnold and the lady Eve；〃
answered Hugh； 〃if by any chance it can be found。〃
〃That is easy； sir；〃 said David。 〃As it happens； I passed it not much
more than an hour ago and knew it again。〃
〃Did you see any one there？〃 asked Hugh eagerly。
〃Nay； the windows were dark。 Also the Jew guiding me said he had heard
that all who dwelt in that house were dead of the plague。 Still of
this matter he knew nothing for certain。〃
Hugh groaned； but only answered：
〃Forward！〃
As they went David told them his story。 It seemed that when he was
struck down in the square where the crazy friar preached； and like to
be stabbed and trampled to death； some of the Jews dragged him into
the shadow and rescued him。 Afterward they took him to a horrid and
squalid quarter called La Juiverie； into which no Christian dare
enter。 Here he lay sick of his hurts and unable to get out until that
very afternoon； the widow Rebecca； whom they had saved； nursing him
all the while。
〃Did you hear aught of us？〃 asked Dick。
〃Ay； at first that you were holding Dead Bride's Tower bravely。 So as
soon as I might； I came to join you there if I could win in and you
still lived。 But they told me that you had fallen at last。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Dick； 〃well； as it chances it was not we who fell； but that
tale is long。 Still； David； you are a brave lad who would have come to
die with us； and my master will thank you when he can give his mind to
such things。 Say； did you hear aught else？〃
〃Ay； Dick； I heard two days ago that the French lord； Cattrina； whom
Sir Hugh was to have fought at Venice； had left Avignon； none knew why
or whither he went。〃
〃Doubtless because of the plague and he wished to go where there was
none；〃 answered Dick。
But Hugh groaned again； thinking to himself that Acour would scarcely
have left Avignon if Eve were still alive within its walls。
After this they went on in silence； meeting very few and speaking with
none； for the part of the great city through which they passed seemed
to be almost deserted。 Indeed in this quarter the pest was so fearful
that all who remained alive and could do so had fled elsewhere；
leaving behind them only the sick and those who plundered houses。
〃One thing I forgot to say；〃 said David presently。 〃The Jews told me
that they had certain information that the notary knave Basil was paid
by the lord Cattrina to lead us to that square where the fires burned
in order that we might be murdered there。 Further； our death was to be
the signal for the massacre of all the Jews； only； as it chanced；
their plan went awry。〃
〃As will Basil's neck if ever I meet him again；〃 muttered Grey Dick
beneath his breath。 〃Lord！ what fools we were to trust that man。 Well；
we've paid the price and； please God； so shall he。〃
They turned the corner and rode down another street； till presently
David said：
〃Halt！ yonder is the house。 See the cognizance above the gateway！〃
Hugh and Dick leapt from their horses； the latter bidding David lead
them into the courtyard and hold them there。 Then they entered the
house； of which the door was ajar； and by the shine of the moon that
struggled through the window…places； crept up the stairs and passages
till they reached those rooms where Sir Andrew and Eve had lodged。
〃Hist！〃 said Dick； and he pointed to a line of light that showed
beneath the closed door。
Hugh pushed it gently and it opened a little。 They looked through the
crack； and within saw a man in a dark robe who was seated at a table
counting out gold by the light of a lamp。 Just then he lifted his
head； having felt the draught of air from the open door。 It was the
notary Basil！
Without a word they entered the room； closing and bolting the door
behind them。 Then Dick leapt on Basil as a wolf leaps； and held him
fat； while Hugh ran past him and threw wide the door of that chamber
in which Eve had lain sick。 It was empty。 Back he came again and in a
terrible voice； said：
〃Now； Sir Notary； where are the lady Eve and Sir Andrew her guardian？〃
〃Alas； Sir Knight；〃 began the knave in a quavering voice； 〃both of
them are dead。〃
〃What！〃 cried Hugh supporting himself against the wall； for at this
terrible news his knees trembled beneath him； 〃have you or your patron
Cattrina murdered them？〃
〃Murdered them； Sir Knight！ I do murder？ I； a Christian and a man of
peace！ Never！ And the noble lord of Cattrina； Count de Noyon！ Why； he
wished to marry the lady； not to murder her。 indeed he swore that she
was his wife。〃
〃So you know all these things； do you； villain？〃 said Grey Dick；
shaking him as a terrier shakes a rat。
〃Sir Knight；〃 went on the frightened fellow； 〃blame me not for the
acts of God。 He slew these noble persons； not I； I myself saw the
lovely lady carried from this house wrapped in a red cloak。〃
〃So you were in the house； were you？〃 said Grey Dick； shaking him
again。 〃Well； whither did they carry her； thief of the night？〃
〃To the plague pit； good sir； where else in these times？〃
Now Hugh groaned aloud； his eyes closed； and he seemed as though he
were about to fall。 Grey Dick； noting it； for a moment let go of the
notary and turned as though to help his master。 Like a flash Basil
drew a dagger from under his dirty robe and struck at Dick's back。 The
blow was well aimed； nor could an unprotected man on whom it fell have
escaped death。 But although Basil did not see it because of Dick's
long cloak； beneath this cloak he wore the best of mail； and on that
mail the slender dagger broke； its point falling harmless to the
ground。 Next instant Dick had him again in his iron grip。 Paying no
further heed to Hugh； who had sunk to the floor a huddled heap； he
began to speak into the lawyer's ear in his slow； hissing voice。
〃Devil；〃 he said； 〃whether or no you murdered Red Eve and Sir Andrew
Arnold the saint； I cannot say for certain； though doubtless I shall
learn in time。 At least a while ago you who had taken our money；
strove to murder both of us； or cause us to be torn in piec