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together and this before we died； a thing that came about； indeed；
though； not by my own will or his。
＇*＇ Of late there has been much dispute as to the origin of the phrase
〃to go west；〃 or in other words； to die。 Surely it arises from the
custom of the Ancient Egyptians who； after death； were ferried
across the Nile and entombed upon the western shore。Ed。
For the rest when Kari saw my workmen fashioning gold and setting
jewels in it for sale to the nobles and ladies of the Court； he was
much interested and asked if he might be allowed to follow this craft；
of which he said he understood something； and thus earn the bread he
ate。 I answered； yes； for I knew that it irked his proud nature to be
dependent on me； and gave him gold and silver with a little room
having a furnace in it where he could labour。 The first thing he made
was an object about two inches across； round and with a groove at the
back of it； on the front of which he fashioned an image of the sun
having a human face and rays of light projecting all about。 I asked
him what was its purpose； whereon he took the piece and thrust it into
the lobe of his ear where the gristle had been stretched in the
fashion that I have described； which it fitted exactly。 Then he told
me that in his country all the nobles wore such ornaments and that
those who did so were called 〃ear…men〃 to distinguish them from the
common people。 Also he told me many other things too long to set out；
which made me desire more than ever to see this empire with my eyes；
for an empire and no less he declared it to be。
Afterwards Kari made many such ornaments which I sold for brooches
with a pin set at the back of them。 Also he shaped other things； for
his skill as a goldsmith was wonderful； such as cups and platters of
strange design and rich ornamentation which commanded a great price。
But on every one of them； in the centre or some other part of the
embossment； appeared this image of the sun。 I asked him why。 He
answered because the sun was his god and his people were Sun…
worshippers。 I reminded him that he had said that a certain Pachacamac
whose image he wore about his neck was his god。 To this he replied：
〃Yes； Pachacamac is the god above gods； the Creator； the Spirit of the
World； but the Sun is his visible house and raiment that all may see
and worship；〃 a saying that I thought had truth in it； seeing that all
Nature is the raiment of God。
I tried to instruct him in our faith； but although he listened
patiently and I think understood； he would not become a Christian；
making it very plain to me that he thought that a man should live and
die in the religion in which he was born and that from what he saw in
London he did not hold that Christians were any better than those who
worshipped the sun and the great spirit； Pachacamac。 So I abandoned
this attempt； although there was danger to him while he remained a
heathen。 Indeed twice or thrice the priests made inquiry concerning
his faith； being curious as to all that had to do with him。 However； I
silenced them by pretending that I was instructing him as well as I
was able and that as yet he did not know enough English to hearken to
their holy expositions。 Also when they became persistent I made gifts
to the monasteries to which they belonged； or if they were parish
priests； then to their cur閟 or churches。
Still I was troubled about this matter； for some of these priests were
very fierce and intolerant； and I was sure that in time they would
push the business further。
One more thing I noticed about Kari； namely； that he shrank from women
and indeed seemed to hate them。 The maids who had remained with me
since my uncle's death noticed this； by nature as it were； and in
revenge would not serve him。 The end of it was that； fearing lest they
should do him some evil turn with the priests or otherwise； I sent
them away and hired men to take their place。 This distaste of Kari for
women I set down to all that he had suffered at the hands of his false
and beautiful wife not wrongly as I think。
CHAPTER V
THE COMING OF BLANCHE
One day； it was the last of the year； the anniversary of the death of
my uncle whose goodness and wisdom I pondered on more and more as time
went by； having a little time to spare from larger affairs； I chanced
to be in the shop in the front of the house； which； as John Grimmer
had said； he kept as a trap to 〃snare the ladybirds；〃 and I continued；
because I knew that he would not wish that anything should be changed。
Here I was pleasing myself by looking over such pieces as we had to
sell which the head craftsman was showing to me； since myself I knew
little of them； except as a matter of account。
Whilst I was thus engaged there entered the shop a very fine lady
accompanied by a still finer lordling arrayed so similarly that； at
first sight； in their hooded ermine cloaks it was difficult to know
which was man and which was woman。 When they threw these aside；
however； for the shop was warm after the open air； I knew more than
that； since with a sudden stoppage of the heart I saw before me none
other than the lady Blanche Aleys and her relative； the lord Deleroy。
She； who in the old days of the Hastings burnings had been but a lily
bud； was now an open flower and beautiful exceedingly； indeed in her
own fashion the most beautiful woman that ever I beheld。 Tall she was
and stately as a lily bloom； white as a lily also； save for those
wondrous blue eyes over which curled the dark lashes。 In shape； too；
she was perfect； full…breasted； yet not too full； small…waisted； and
with delicate limbs； a very Venus； such an one as I had seen in
ancient marble brought in a ship from Italy and given； as I believe；
to the King； who loved such things； to be set up in his palace。
My lord also was yet handsomer than he had been； more set and manly；
though still he affected his coxcomb party…coloured dress with the
turned…up shoes of which the points were fastened by little golden
chains beneath the knee。 Still he was a fine man with his roving black
eyes； his loose mouth and little pointed beard from which； as from his
hair； came an odour of scents。 Seeing me in my merchant's gown； for I
remained mindful of my uncle's advice as regards attire； he spoke to
me as great men do to shop…keepers。
〃Well met； Goldsmith；〃 he said in his round； well…trained voice； 〃I
would make a new…year gift to the lady here； and I am told that you
have plate…wares of the best； gold cups and jewels of rich and rare
design； stamped all of them with the image of the sun which one would
wish to remember on such a day as this。 But hearken； let John Grimmer
himself come to serve me for I would treat with no underlings； or take
me to him where he is。〃
Now I bowed before him； rubbing my hands； and answered； for so the
humour led me： 〃Then I fear that I must take my lord farther than my
lord would wish to travel just at present； though who knows？
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