Perchance； like the rest of us； he may take that journey sooner than
he thinks。〃
Now at the sound of my voice I saw the lady Blanche stare at me；
trying to catch sight of my face beneath the hood which I wore on this
cold day； while Deleroy started and said briefly：
〃Your meaning？〃
〃It is plain； my lord。 John Grimmer is dead and I know not where he
dwells at present since he took that secret with him。 But I； who
unworthily carry on his trade； am at your lordship's service。〃
Then I turned and bade the shopman command Kari to come hither and
bring with him the choicest of our cups and jewels。
He went and I busied myself in setting stools for these noble
customers to rest on before the fire。 As I did so by chance my hand
touched that of the lady Blanche； whereat once more she strove to peer
beneath my hood。 It was as though the nature in her knew that touch
again； as by some instinct every woman does； if once the toucher's
lips have been near her own； though it be long ago。 But I only turned
my head away and drew that hood the closer。
Now Kari came and with him the shopman； bearing the precious wares。
Kari wore a wool…lined robe； very plain； which yet became him so well
that with his fine…cut face and flashing eyes he looked like an
Eastern prince disguised。 At him this fine pair stared； for never had
they seen such a man； but taking no note； with many bows he showed the
jewels one by one。 Among these was a gem of great value； a large；
heart…shaped ruby that Kari had set in a surround of twisted golden
serpents with heads raised to strike and little eyes of diamonds。 Upon
this brooch the lady Blanche fixed her gaze and discarding all others；
began to play with it； till at length the lord Deleroy asked the
price。 I consulted with Kari； explaining that myself I did not handle
this branch of my business； then named it carelessly； it was a great
sum。
〃God's truth！ Blanche；〃 said Deleroy； 〃this merchant thinks I am made
of gold。 You must choose a cheaper ornament for your new year's gift；
or he will have to wait for payment。〃
〃Which mayhap I should be willing to do from one of your quality； my
lord；〃 I interrupted； bowing。
He looked at me and said：
〃Can I have a word apart with you； merchant？〃
Again I bowed and led him to the eating…room where he gazed about him；
amazed at the richness of the furnishings。 He sat him down upon a
carven chair while I stood before him humbly and waited。
〃I am told；〃 he said at length； 〃that John Grimmer did other business
besides that of selling jewels。〃
〃Yes； my lord； some foreign trade。〃
〃And some home trade also。 I mean that he lent money。〃
〃At times； my lord； and on good security； if he chanced to have any at
command； and at a certain interest。 Perhaps my lord will come to his
point。〃
〃It is short and clear。 Those of us who are at Court always want money
where it is needful if we would have advancement and earn the royal
favour of one who does not pay； at least in gold。〃
〃Be pleased to state the amount and the security offered； my lord。〃
He did so。 The sum was high and the security was bad。
〃Are there any who would stand surety for my lord？〃
〃Yes； one of great estate； Sir Robert Aleys； who has wide lands in
Sussex。〃
〃I have heard the name； and if my lord will bid his lawyers put the
matter in writing； I will cause the lands to be valued and give an
answer as quickly as may be。〃
〃For a young man you are careful； merchant。〃
〃Alas！ such as I need to be who must guard our small earnings in these
troublous times of war and tumult。 Such a sum as you speak of would
take all that John Grimmer and I have laid by after years of toil。〃
Again he looked at the furnishings of the room and shrugged his
shoulders； then said：
〃Good； it shall be done for the need is urgent。 To whom is the letter
to be sent？〃
〃To John Grimmer； at the Boat House； Cheapside。〃
〃But you told me that John Grimmer was dead。〃
〃And so he is； my lord； but his name remains。〃
Then we returned to the sop and as we went I said；
〃If your lordship's lady should set her heart upon the ruby the cost
of it can stand over a while； since I know that it is hard for a
husband to disappoint a wife of what she desires。〃
〃Man； she is my distant cousin； not my wife。 I would she were； but how
can two high…placed paupers wed？〃
〃Perhaps it is for this reason that my lord wishes to borrow money。〃
Again he shrugged his shoulders； and as we entered the shop I threw
back the hood from off my head upon which I wore a merchant's cap of
velvet。 The lady Blanche caught sight of me and started。
〃Surely； surely；〃 she began； 〃you are he who shot the three arrows at
the cave's mouth at Hastings。〃
〃Yes； my lady； and did your hawk escape the dogs upon the London
road？〃
〃Nay； it was crippled and died； which was the first of many troubles；
for I think my luck rode away with you that day； Master Hubert of
Hastings；〃 she added with a sigh。
〃There are other hawks and luck returns；〃 I replied； bowing。 〃Perhaps
this trinket will bring it back to you； my lady；〃 and taking the
snake…surrounded ruby heart； I proffered it to her with another bow。
〃Oh！〃 she said； her blue eyes shining with pleasure； 〃oh！ it is
beautiful； but whence is the price to come for so costly a thing？〃
〃I think the matter is one that can wait。〃
At that moment the lord Deleroy broke in； saying；
〃So you are the man who slew the French knight with an ancient sword；
and afterwards shot three other Frenchmen with three shafts； sending
one of them through shield and mail and body； a tale that was spoken
of afterwards； even in London。 God's truth！ you should be serving the
King in the wars； not yourself behind the counter。〃
〃There are many ways of serving； my lord；〃 I answered； 〃by pen and
merchandise as well as by steel and shafts。 Now with me it is the turn
of the former； though perhaps the ancient sword and the great black
bow wait till their time comes again。〃
He stared at me and muttered； half to himself：
〃A strange merchant and a grim； as those dead Frenchmen may have
thought。 I tell you； Sir Trader； that your talk and the eyes of that
tall Moor of yours turn my back cold； it is as though someone walked
over my grave。 Come； Blanche； let us begone ere our horses be chilled
as I am。 Master Grimmer； or Hastings； you shall hear from me； unless I
can do my business otherwise； and for the trinket send me a note at
your leisure。〃
Then they went； but as the lady Blanche left the shop she caught her
robe and turned to free it； while she did so flashing at me one of her
sweet looks such as I remembered well。
Kari followed to the door and watched them mount their horses at the
gate； then he searched the ground with his eyes。
〃What was it hooked her cloak？〃 I asked。
〃A dream； or the air； Master； for there is nothing else to which it
could have hung。 Those who would throw spears behind them must first
turn round。〃
〃What think you of those two； Kari？〃
〃I think that they will not pay for your jewel； but perhaps this was
but a bait upon the hook。〃
〃And what more； Kari？〃
〃I think that the lady is very fair and false； and that the great
lord's heart is as black as are his eyes。 Also I think that they are
dear to each other and well matched。 But it seems that you have met
them both before； Master； so you will know better about them than your
slave。〃
〃Yes； I have met them；〃 I answered sharply； for his words about
Blanche angered me； adding； 〃I have noted； Kari； that you have never a
good word for any one whom I favour。 You are jealous…natured； Kari；
especially of women。〃
〃You ask； I answer；〃 he replied； falling into broken English； as was
his fashion when moved； 〃and it is true that those who have much love；
are much jealous。 That is a fault in my people。 Also I love not women。
Now I go make another piece for that which Master give the lady。 Only
this time it all snake and no heart。〃
He went； taking the tray of jewels with him； and I； too； went to the
eating…room to think。
How strange was this meeting。 I had never forgotten the lady Blanche；
but in a sense I had lived her memory down and mindful of my uncle's
counsel； had not sought to look upon her again； for which reason I
kept away from Hastings where I thought that I should find her。 And
now here she was in London and in my house； brought thither by fate。
Nor was that all； since those blue eyes of hers had re…lighted the
dead fires in my heart and； seated there alone； I knew that I loved
her； indeed had never ceased to love her。 She was more to me than all
my wealth； more than anything； and alas！ between us there was still a
great gulf fixed。
She was not wed； it was true； but she was a highly placed lady； and I
but a merchant who could not even call myself a squire； or by law wear
garments made of certain stuffs which I handled daily in my trade。 How
might that gulf be crossed？
Then as I mused there rose in my mind a memory of certain sayings of
my wise old uncle； and with it an answer to the question。 Gold would
bridge the widest streams of human difference。 These fine folk for all
their flauntings were poor。 They came to me to borrow money wherewith
to gild their coronets and satisfy the importunate creditors at their
door； lest they should be pulled from their high place and forced back
into the number of the common herd as those who could no longer either
give or pay。
And after all； was this difference between them and me so wide？ The
grandsire of Sir Robert Aleys； I had been told； gathered his wealth by
trade and usury in the old wars； indeed； it was said that he was one
who dealt in cattle； while Lord Deleroy was reported to be a bastard；
if of the bluest blood； so blue that it ran nigh to the royal purple。
Well； what was mine？ On the father's side； Saxon descended from that
of Thanes who went down before the Normans and thereafter became
humble landed folk of the lesser sort。 On the mother's； of the race of
the old sea…kings who slew and conquered through all the world they
knew。 Was I then so far beneath these others？ Nay； but like my father
and my uncle I was one who bought and sold and the hand of the dy