red eve- 第9部分

〃Ay；　much。　For　instance；　a　hollow　in　the　Marsh；　an　open　grave；　and　an
axe；　yes；　an　axe　that　had　delved　it　where　the　bog　was　soft　beneath　the
snow。　Grey　Dick　held　the　axe　in　one　hand　and　his　black　bow　in　the
other；　while　Red　Eve；　your　Eve；　stood　at　its　edge　and　stared　into　it
like　one　in　a　dream。　Then　at　the　head　of　the　grave　an　old；　old　man
clad　in　mail　beneath　his　priestly　robes；　and　that　man　/myself/；　Hugh；
grown　very　ancient；　but　still　myself；　and　no　other。

〃And　at　the　foot　of　the　grave　/you/；　Hugh　de　Cressi；　you　and　no　other；
wayworn　and　fierce；　but　also　clad　in　mail；　and　wearing　a　knight's
crest　upon　your　shield。　You　with　drawn　sword　in　hand；　and　facing　you；
also　with　drawn　sword；　rage　and　despair　on　his　dark　face；　a　stately；
foreign…looking　man；　whom　mine　eyes　have　never　seen；　but　whom　I　should
know　again　midst　a　million；　a　man　who；　I　think；　was　doomed　to　fill　the
grave。

〃Lastly；　standing　on　a　little　mound　near　to　the　bank　of　the　swirling
river；　where　jagged　sheets　of　ice　ground　against　each　other　like　the
teeth　of　the　wicked　in　hell；　strangely　capped　and　clad　in　black；　his
arms　crossed　upon　his　breast　and　a　light　smile　in　his　cold　eyes；　he
who　was　called　Murgh　in　Cathay；　he　who　named　himself　Gateway　of　the
Gods！



〃For　a　moment　I　saw；　then　all　was　gone；　and　I　found　myselfI　know　not
whywalking　toward　the　mighty　arch　whereon　sat　the　iron　dragons。　In
its　shadow　I　turned　and　looked　back。　There　at　the　head　of　the　pool　the
man　was　seated　in　his　chair；　and　to　right　and　to　left　of　him　came　the
black　doves　and　the　white　doves　in　countless　multitudes；　all　the
thousands　of　them　that　had　been　stayed　in　their　flight　pouring　down
upon　him　at　onceor　so　I　thought。　They　wheeled　about　his　head；　they
hid　his　face　from　me；　and　II　departed　into　the　shadow　of　the　arch；
and　I　saw　him　and　them　no　more。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　IV

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　PENANCE

The　tale　was　done；　and　these　two　stood　staring　at　one　another　from
each　side　of　the　glowing　hearth；　whose　red　light　illumined　their
faces。　At　length　the　heavy　silence　was　broken　by　Sir　Andrew。

〃I　read　your　heart；　Hugh；〃　he　said；　〃as　Murgh　read　mine；　for　I　think
that　he　gave　me　not　only　strength；　but　something　of　his　wisdom　also；
whereby　I　was　able　to　win　safe　back　to　England　and　to　this　hour　to
walk　unharmed　by　many　a　pit。　I　read　your　heart；　and　in　its　book　is
written　that　you　think　me　mad；　one　who　pleases　his　old　age　with　tales
of　marvel　that　others　told　him；　or　which　his　own　brain　fashioned。〃

〃Not　so；　Father；〃　answered　Hugh　uneasily；　for　in　truth　some　such
thoughts　were　passing　through　his　mind。　〃Onlyonly　the　thing　is　very
strange；　and　it　happened　so　long　ago；　before　Eve　and　I　were　born；
before　those　that　begot　us　were　born　either；　perchance。〃

〃Yes；　more　than　fifty　years　agoit　may　be　sixtyI　forget。　In　sixty
years　the　memory　plays　strange　tricks　with　men；　no　doubt；　so　how　can　I
blame　you　if　you　believewhat　you　do　believe？　And　yet；　Hugh；〃　he　went
on　after　a　pause；　and　speaking　with　passion；　〃this　was　no　dream　of
which　I　tell　you。　Why　do　you　suppose　that　among　all　those　that　have
grown　up　about　me　I　have　chosen　you　out　to　love；　you　and　your　Eve？　Not
because　a　chance　made　me　your　godsire　and　her　my　pupil。　I　say　that
from　your　infancy　your　faces　haunted　me。　Ay；　and　when　you　had　turned
childhood's　corner　and　once　I　met　the　pair　of　you　walking　hand　in
hand；　then　of　a　sudden　I　knew　that　it　was　you　two　and　no　others　whom
that　god　or　devil　had　showed　to　me　standing　by　the　open　grave　upon　the
banks　of　Blythe。　I　knew　it　of　Dick　the　Archer　also；　and　can　I　be
mistaken　of　such　a　man　as　that　who　has　no　fellow　in　England？　But　you
think　I　dreamed　it　all；　and　perhaps　I　should　not　have　spoken；　though
something　made　me　speak。　Well；　in　a　day　to　come　you　may　change　your
mind；　since　whatever　dangers　threaten　you　will　not　die　yet；　Hugh。　Tell
me　now；　what　is　this　Frenchman　like　who　would　marry　Eve？　I　have　never
seen　him。〃

Hugh；　who　was　glad　to　get　back　to　the　things　of　earth；　described　Acour
as　best　he　could。

〃Ah！〃　said　Sir　Andrew。　〃Much　such　a　man　as　stood　face　to　face　with　you
by　the　grave　while　Murgh　watched；　and　you　are　not　likely　to　be
friends；　are　you？　But　I　forgot。　You　have　determined　that　it　was　but　a
dream　and　now　you　are　wondering　how　he　who　is　called　Gate　of　the　Gods
in　Cathay　could　come　to　Blythburgh。　Well；　I　think　that　all　the　world
is　his　garden；　given　to　him　by　God；　but　doubtless　that's　only　another
face　of　my　dream　whereof　we'll　speak　no　moreat　present。　Now　for　your
troubles；　which　are　no　dream。　Lie　you　down　to　sleep　on　the　skin　of
that　striped　beast。　I　killed　it　in　Cathayin　my　day　of　dreams；　and
now　it　shall　serve　for　yours；　from　which　may　the　dead　eyes　of　John
Clavering　be　absent！　I　go　forth　to　seek　your　father　and　to　arrange
certain　matters。　With　Grey　Dick　at　the　door　you'll　be　safe　for　a
while；　I　think。　If　not；　here's　a　cupboard　where　you　may　hide。〃　And；
drawing　aside　the　arras；　he　showed　him　a　certain　secret　place　large
enough　to　hold　a　man；　then　left　the　room。

Hugh　laid　himself　upon　the　skin　of　the　beast；　which　had　been　a　tiger；
though　he　did　not　know　it　by　that　name。　So　weary　was　he　that　not　all
he　had　gone　through　that　day　or　even　the　old　warrior…priest's
marvellous　tale；　in　which　he　and　Eve　played　so　wonderful　a　part；　could
keep　his　eyes　from　closing。　Presently　he　was　fast　asleep；　and　so
remained　until；　four　hours　later；　something　disturbed　him；　and　he
awoke　to　see　Sir　Andrew　writing　at　a　desk。

〃Rise；　my　son；〃　said　the　old　priest　without　looking　up　from　his　paper。
〃Early　as　it　is　you　must　be　stirring　if　you　would　be　clear　of　Dunwich
by　daybreak　and　keep　a　whole　skin。　I　have　set　a　taper　in　my　sleeping…
closet　yonder；　and　there　you'll　find　water　to　wash　with　and　a　stool　to
kneel　on　for　your　prayers；　neither　of　which　neglect；　since　you　have
blood　on　your　hands　and　great　need　for　Heaven's　help。〃

So　Hugh　arose；　yawning；　and　stumbled　heavily　to　the　chamber；　for　he
was　still　faint　with　sleep；　which　would　not　leave　him　till　he　had
plunged　his　head　into　a　basin　of　icy　water。　This　done；　he　knelt　and
prayed　as　he　had　been　bidden；　with　a　very　earnest　heart；　and　afterward
came　back　to　the　guest…hall。

Seeing　folk　gathered　there　as　he　entered　he　laid　hand　on　sword；　not
his　own　with　which　he　had　killed　his　cousin；　but　a　long　and　knightly
weapon　that　Sir　Andrew　had　given　him　with　the　armour。　Drawing　it；　he
advanced　boldly；　for　he　thought　that　his　enemies　might　have　found　him
out；　and　that　his　best　safety　lay　in　courage。　Thus　he　appeared　in　the
ring　of　the　lamplight　clad　in　gleaming　steel　and　with　raised　weapon。

〃What；　son！〃　asked　a　testy　voice　which　he　knew　for　that　of　his　own
father；　〃is　it　not　enough　to　have　killed　your　cousin？　Would　you　fall
on　your　brothers　and　me　also；　that　you　come　at　us　clad　in　mail　and
with　bare　steel　in　hand？〃

Hearing　these　words　Hugh　sheathed　the　sword；　and；　advancing　toward　the
speaker；　a　handsome；　portly　man；　who　wore　a　merchant's　robe　lined　with
rich　fur；　sank　to　his　knee　before　him。

〃Your　pardon；　my　father；〃　he　said。　〃Sir　Andrew　here　will　have　told　you
the　story；　also　that　I　am　not　to　blame　for　this　blood…shedding。〃

〃I　think　you　need　to　ask　it；〃　replied　Master　de　Cressi；　〃and　if　you
and　that　lean　henchman　of　yours　are　not　to　blame；　then　say　who　is？〃

Now　a　tall；　slim　figure　glided　up　to　them。　It　was　Eve；　clothed　in　her
own　robe　again；　and　beautiful　as　ever　after　her　short　rest。

〃Sir；　I　am　to　blame；〃　she　said　in　her　full；　low　voice。　〃My　need　was
sore　and　I　sent　a　messenger　to　Hugh　bidding　him　meet　me　in　the
Blythburgh　Marsh。　There　we　were　set　on；　and　there　John　Clavering；　my
brother；　smote　Hugh　in　the　face。　Would　you；　a　de　Cressi；　have　had　him
take　the　blow　and　yield　me　up　to　the　Frenchman？〃

〃By　God　and　my　forefathers；　no！　least　of　all　from　one　of　your　stock
saving　your　presence；〃　answered　the　merchant。　〃In　truth；　had　he　done
so；　dead　or　living　from　that　day　I　would　have　called　him　no　son　of
mine。　Yet；　Red　Eve；　you　and　he　and　your　love…makings　have　brought　much
trouble　on　me　and　my　House。　Look　now　what　it　means。　A　feud　to　the
death　between　our　families　of　which　no　man　can　foresee　the　end。
Moreover；　how　can　you　marry；　seeing　that　a　brother's　blood　runs
between　you？〃

〃It　is　on　John's　head；〃　she　answered　sadly；　〃not　on　Hugh's　hand。　I
warned　him；　and　Hugh　spared　him　once。　What　more　could　we　do？〃

〃I　know　not；　Eve；　I　only　know　what　you　have　done；　you　and　Hugh　and
Grey　Dick。　Four　dead　and　two　wounded；　that's　the　bill　I　must　discharge
as　best　I　may。　Doubtless　too　soon　there　will　be　more　to　follow；
whether　they　be　Claverings　or　de　Cressis。　Well；　we　must　take　things　as
God　sends　them；　and　leave　Him　to　balance　the　account。

〃But　there　is　no　time　to　lose　if　Hugh's　neck　is　to　escape　a　halter。
Speak　you；　Father　Andrew；　who　are　wise　and　old；　and　have　this　matter
in　hand。　Oh！　Hugh；　Hugh；　you　were　born　a　fighter；　not　a　merchant　like
your　brethren；〃　and　he　pointed　to　three　young　men　who　all　this　while
had　stood　silently　behind　him　looking　upon　their　youngest　brother　with
grave　disapproval。　〃Yes；　the　old　Norman　blood　comes　out　in　you；　and
the　Norman　mail　suits　you　well；〃　he　added　with　a　flash　of　pride；　〃and
so　there's　an　endor　a　beginning。　Now；　Sir　Andrew；　speak。〃

〃Master　de　Cressi；〃　said　the　old　priest；　〃your　son　Hugh　rides　to
London　on　an　errand　of　mine　which　I　think　will　save　his　neck　from　that
halter　whereof　you　spoke　but　now。　Are　those　four　mounted　men　that　you
promised　me　ready　to　companion　him？〃

〃They　will　be　within　an　hour；　Father；　but　not　before；　since　six　good
horses　cannot　be　laid　hands　on　in　the　dead　of　night；　being　stabled
without　the　gates。　But　what　is　this　message　of　yours；　and　to　whom　does
Hugh　go？〃

〃To　his　Grace　Edward　the　King；　none　less；　Geoffrey　de　Cressi；　with
that　which　shall　earn　pardon　for　him　and　Dick　the　Archer；　or　so　I
believe。　As　for　what　it　is　I　may　not　tell　you　or　any　man。　It　has　to　do
with　great　matters　of　State　that　are　for　the　King's　ear　alone；　and　I
charge　you；　every　one；　on　your　honour　and　your　safety；　to　make　no
mention　of　this　mission　without　these　walls。　Do　you　swear；　Geoffrey　de
Cressi；　and　you；　his　sons？〃

Then　one　by　one　they