driving snow to the door of the grey Preceptory of the Knights
Templar。 In a window above the porch a light burned dimly； the only
one to be seen in any of the houses round about； for by now all men
were abed。
〃'Tis Father Arnold's room；〃 said Eve。 〃He sits there at his books。
I'll knock and call him； but do you two go lay hold of the ring of the
church door；〃 and she nodded toward a grey pile that stood near by。
〃Then none can touch you； and how know we who may be in this house？〃
〃I'll go no step further；〃 answered Hugh sullenly。 〃All this Temple
ground is sanctuary； or at least we will risk it。〃 And； seizing the
knocker； he hammered at the door。
The light in the window vanished； and presently they heard a sound of
creaking bolts。 Then the door opened； revealing a tall man； white…
bearded； ancient； and clad in a frayed； furred robe worn over a
priest's cassock； who held a lantern in his hand。
〃Who knocks？〃 he asked。 〃Does some soul pass that you disturb me after
curfew？〃
〃Ay； Father Andrew；〃 answered Hugh； 〃souls have passed； and souls are
near to passing。 Let us in； and we will tell you all。〃
Without waiting for an answer he entered with the others； pushed to
the massive door and bolted it again。
〃What's this？ A woman？〃 said the old priest。 〃Eve of Clavering； by the
Saints！〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered calmly； though her teeth chattered； 〃Eve of
Clavering； Eve the Red； this time with the blood of men； soaked with
the waters of the Blythe； frozen with the snows of Dunwich Heath；
where she has lain hid for hours with a furze bush for shelter。 Eve
who seeks shriving； a dry rag for her back； a morsel for her lips； and
fire to warm her； which in the Name of Christ and of charity she prays
you will not refuse to her。〃
So she spoke； and laughed recklessly。
Almost before she had finished her wild words the old man； who looked
what he was； a knight arrayed in priestly robes； had run to a door at
the end of the hall and was calling through it； 〃Mother Agnes！ Mother
Agnes！〃
〃Be not so hasty； Sir Andrew；〃 answered a shrill voice。 〃A posset must
have time to boil。 It is meet now that you wear a tonsure that you who
are no longer a centurion should forget these 'Come； and he cometh；'
ways。 When the water's hot〃
The rest of that speech was lost； for Father Arnold； muttering some
word belonging to his 〃centurion〃 days； dived into the kitchen； to
reappear presently dragging a little withered old woman after him who
was dressed in a robe of conventual make。
〃Peace； Mother Agnes； peace！〃 he said。 〃Take this lady； dry her； array
her in your best gown； give her food； warm her； and bring her back to
me。 Short？ What care I if the robe be short？ Obey； or it will not be
come； and he cometh； but go and she goeth； and then who will shelter
one who talks so much？〃
He thrust the pair of them through the kitchen door and； returning；
led Hugh and Grey Dick up a broad oak stair to what had been the
guest…hall of the Preceptory on its first floor。
It was a very great chamber where； before their Order was dispersed；
all the Knights Templar had been wont to dine with those who visited
them at times of festival。 Tattered banners still hung among the
cobwebs of the ancient roof； the shields of past masters with stately
blazonings were carved in stone upon the walls。 But of all this
departed splendour but little could be seen； since the place was lit
only by a single lamp of whale's oil and a fire that burned upon the
wide stone hearth； a great fire； since Father Arnold； who had spent
many years of his life in the East； loved warmth。
〃Now； Hugh de Cressi；〃 he said； 〃what have you done？〃
〃Slain my cousin； John of Clavering； Father； and perhaps another man。〃
〃In fair fight； very fair fight；〃 croaked Grey Dick。
〃Who doubts it？ Can a de Cressi be a murderer？〃 asked the priest。 〃And
you； Richard the Archer； what have you done？〃
〃Shot a good horse and three bad men dead with arrowsat least they
should be deadand another through the hand； standing one against
twenty。〃
〃A gallantI meanan evil deed；〃 broke in the old warrior priest；
〃though once it happened to me in a place called Damascusbut you
both are wet； also。 Come into my chamber； I can furnish you with
garments of a sort。 And； Richard； set that black bow of yours near the
fire； but not too fire。 As you should know well； a damp string is ill
to draw with。 Nay； fear not to leave it； this is sanctuary； and to
make sure I will lock the doors。〃
Half an hour was gone by； and a very strange company had gathered
round the big fire in the guest…chamber of the Temple； eating with
appetite of such food as its scanty larder could provide for them。
First there was Red Eve in a woollen garment； the Sunday wear of
Mother Agnes for twenty years past and more； which reached but little
below her knees； and was shaped like a sack。 On her feet were no
shoes； and for sole adornment her curling black hair fell about her
shoulders； for so she had arranged it because the gown would not meet
across her bosom。 Yet； odd as it might be； in this costume Eve looked
wonderfully beautiful； perhaps because it was so scant and the
leathern strap about her waist caused it to cling close to her shapely
form。
By her stood Hugh； wearing a splendid suit of chain armour。 It had
been Sir Andrew Arnold's in his warlike years； and now he lent it to
his godson Hugh because； as he said； he had nothing else。 Also； it may
have crossed the minds of both of them that such mail as this which
the Saracens had forged； if somewhat out of fashion； could still turn
swordcuts。
Then there was Grey Dick； whose garments seemed to consist of a sack
with holes in it tied round him with a rope； his quiver of arrows
slung over it for ornament。 He sat by the fire on a stool； oiling his
black bow with a rind of the fat bacon that he had been eating。
All the tale had been told； and Father Arnold looked very grave
indeed。
〃I have known strange and dreadful stories in my time；〃 he said； 〃but
never； I think； one stranger or more dreadful。 What would you do now；
godson？〃
〃Take sanctuary for myself and Grey Dick because of the slaying of
John Clavering and others； and afterward be married by you to Eve。〃
〃Be married to the sister with the brother's blood upon your hands
without absolution from the Church or pardon from the King； and you
but a merchant's younger son and she to…night one of the greatest
heiresses in East Anglia！ Why； how may that be？〃
〃I blame him not；〃 broke in Eve。 〃John； whom I never loved； strove to
smoke us out like rats because he was in the pay of the Norman； my
Lord of Acour。 John struck Hugh in the face with his hand and
slandered him with his tongue。 John was given his life once； and
afterwards slain in fair fight。 Oh； I say； I blame him not； nor shall
John's blood rise between him and me！〃
〃Yet the world will blame him； and you； too； Eve； yes； even those who
love you both。 A while must go by； say a year。 At least I'll not marry
you at once； and cannot； if I would； with both your fathers living and
unadvised； and the sheriff waiting at the gate。 Tell me now； do any
know that you have entered here？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Dick； looking up from his bow。 〃The hunt came after us；
but I hid these two in a bush and led it away past Hinton to the
Ipswich road； keeping but just ahead in the snow and talking in three
voices。 Then I gave them the slip and returned。 They'll not guess that
we have come to Dunwich for a while。〃
〃And when they do even the boldest will not enter this holy sanctuary
while the Church has terrors for men's souls。 Yet； here you must not
stay for long； lest in this way or in that your lives pay the price of
it； or a bloody feud break out between the Claverings of Blythburgh
and the de Cressis of Dunwich。 Daughter Eve； get you to bed with old
Agnes。 You are so weary that you will not mind her snores。 To…morrow
ere the dawn I'll talk with you； and； meanwhile； I have words for
Hugh。 Nay； have no fear； the windows are all barred； and Archer Dick
shall watch the door。〃
Eve went； unwillingly enough； although she could scarcely walk；
flashing a good…night to her lover with her fine eyes。 Presently Grey
Dick also went to sleep； like a dog with one eye open； in the little
ante…chamber； near to the great door。
〃Now； Hugh；〃 said Father Arnold； when they were left alone； 〃your case
is desperate； for if you stay here certainly these Claverings will
have your blood。 Yet； if you can be got away safely； there is still a
shaft that you may shoot more deadly than any that ever left Grey
Dick's quiver。 But yesterday I told you for your comfortwhen we
spoke of his wooing of Red Evethat this Norman； for such he is；
although his mother was English and he was English born； is a traitor
to King Edward； whom he pretends to serve。〃
〃Ay； and I said as much to him this afternoon when he prated to me of
his knightly honour； and； though I had no time to take note of faces；
I thought he liked it little who answered hotly that I was a liar。〃
〃I am sorry； Hugh； it may put him on his guard； or perhaps he'll pay
no heed。 At least the words are said； and there's an end。 Now hearken。
I told neither you nor any one all the blackness of his treachery。
Have you guessed what this Acour is here to do？〃
〃Spy out the King's power in these parts； I suppose。〃
〃More than that〃and he dropped his voice to a whisper〃spy out a
safe landing…place for fifty thousand Normans upon our Suffolk coast。
They are to sail hither this coming summer and set the crown of
England upon their Duke John； who will hold it as vassal to his sire；
Philip of France。〃
〃God's name！ Is that true？〃
〃Ay； though in such a devil's business that Name is best left out。
Look you； lad； I had warning from overseas； where； although I am now
nothing but a poor old priest of a broken Order； I still have friends
in high places。 Therefore I watched and found that messengers were
passing between Acour and France。 One of these messengers； a priest；
came a week ago to Dunwich； and spent the night in a tavern waiting
for his ship to sail in the morning。 The good wife who keeps that
tavernask not her namewould go far to serve