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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 swore to be secret as the grave； and Eve swore
also； though of her he had sought no promise。 When this was finished
Sir Andrew asked if any of his brothers accompanied Hugh； saying that
if so they must arm。
〃No；〃 answered Master de Cressi； 〃one of the family is enough to risk
as well as four of our best servants。 My sons bide here with me； who
may need their help； though they are not trained to arms。〃
〃Perhaps it is as well；〃 said Sir Andrew drily； 〃though were I their
agewell； let that be。 Now； son Hugh； before you eat do you and Eve
come with me into the church。〃
At these words Hugh flushed red with joy； and opened his lips to
speak。
〃Nay； nay；〃 broke in Sir Andrew； with a frown； 〃for a different
purpose to that which is in your mind。 Man； is this a time for
marrying and giving in marriage？ And if it were； could I marry you who
are stained with new…shed blood？ 'Tis that you both may be absolved
from the guilt of that blood and learn the penance which God decrees
to you through the m