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after； purposing to cast them to the funeral flames。 But these were
gone； though none had seen them go。 Only out of the gathering darkness
from some temple or pagoda…top a voice spoke like a moaning wind。
〃Fools；〃 wailed the voice； 〃still with you is Murgh； the second Thing
created； Murgh； who was made to be man's minister。 Murgh the Messenger
shall reappear from beyond the setting sun。 Ye cannot kill； ye cannot
spare。 Those priests you seemed to slay he had summoned to be his
officers afar。 Fools！ Ye do but serve as serves Murgh； Gateway of the
Gods。 Life and death are not in your hands or in his。 They are in the
hands of the Master of Murgh； Helper of man； of that Lord whom no eye
hath seen； but whose behests all who are born obeyyes； even the
mighty Murgh； Looser of burdens； whom in your foolishness ye fear。〃
So spoke this voice out of the darkness； and that night the sword of
the great pestilence was lifted from the Eastern land； and there the
funeral fires flared no more。
CHAPTER I
THE TRYSTING…PLACE
On the very day when Murgh the Messenger sailed forth into that
uttermost sea； a young man and a maiden met together at the Blythburgh
marshes； near to Dunwich； on the eastern coast of England。 In this；
the month of February of the year 1346； hard and bitter frost held
Suffolk in its grip。 The muddy stream of Blyth； it is true； was frozen
only in places； since the tide； flowing up from the Southwold harbour；
where it runs into the sea between that ancient town and the hamlet of
Walberswick； had broken up the ice。 But all else was set hard and
fast； and now toward sunset the cold was bitter。
Stark and naked stood the tall； dry reeds。 The blackbirds and
starlings perched upon the willows seemed swollen into feathery balls；
the fur started on the backs of hares； and a four…horse wain could
travel in safety over swamps where at any other time a schoolboy dared
not set his foot。
On such an eve； with snow threatening； the great marsh was utterly
desolate； and this was why these two had chosen it for their meeting
place。
To look on they were a goodly pairthe girl； who was clothed in the
red she always wore； tall； dark； well shaped； with large black eyes
and a determined face； one who would make a very stately woman； the
man broad shouldered； with grey eyes that were quick and almost
fierce； long limbed； hard； agile； and healthy； one who had never known
sickness； who looked as though the world were his own to master。 He
was young； but three…and…twenty that day； and his simple dress； a
tunic of thick wool fastened round him with a leathern belt； to which
hung a short sword； showed that his degree was modest。
The girl； although she seemed his elder； in fact was only in her
twentieth year。 Yet from her who had been reared in the hard school of
that cruel age childhood had long departed； leaving her a ripened
woman before her time。
This pair stood looking at each other。
〃Well； Cousin Eve Clavering；〃 said the man； in his clear voice； 〃why
did your message bid me meet you in this cold place？〃
〃Because I had a word to say to you； Cousin Hugh de Cressi；〃 she
answered boldly； 〃and the marsh being so cold and so lonesome I
thought it suited to my purpose。 Does Grey Dick watch yonder？〃
〃Ay； behind those willows； arrow on string； and God help him on whom
Dick draws！ But what was that word； Eve？〃
〃One easy to understand；〃 she replied； looking him in the eyes
〃Farewell！〃
He shivered as though with the cold； and his face changed。
〃An ill birthday greeting； yet I feared it；〃 he muttered huskily； 〃but
why more now than at any other time？〃
〃Would you know； Hugh？ Well； the story is short； so I'll let it out。
Our great…grandmother； the heiress of the de Cheneys； married twice；
did she not； and from the first husband came the de Cressis； and from
the second the Claverings。 But in this way or in that we Claverings
got the lands； or most of them； and you de Cressis； the nobler stock；
took to merchandise。 Now since those days you have grown rich with
your fishing fleets； your wool mart； and your ferry dues at
Walberswick and Southwold。 We； too； are rich in manors and land；
counting our acres by the thousand； but yet poor； lacking your gold；
though yonder manor〃and she pointed to some towers which rose far
away above the trees upon the high land〃has many mouths to feed。
Also the sea has robbed us at Dunwich； where I was born； taking our
great house and sundry streets that paid us rent； and your market of
Southwold has starved out ours at Blythburgh。〃
〃Well； what has all this to do with you and me； Eve？〃
〃Much； Hugh； as you should know who have been bred to trade；〃 and she
glanced at his merchant's dress。 〃Between de Cressi and Clavering
there has been rivalry and feud for three long generations。 When we
were children it abated for a while； since your father lent money to
mine； and that is why they suffered us to grow up side by side。 But
then they quarrelled about the ferry that we had set in pawn； and your
father asked his gold back again； and； not getting it； took the ferry；
which I have always held a foolish and strife…breeding deed； since
from that day forward the war was open。 Therefore； Hugh； if we meet at
all it must be in these frozen reeds or behind the cover of a thicket；
like a village slut and her man。〃
〃I know that well enough； Eve； who have spoken with you but twice in
nine months。〃 And he devoured her beautiful face with hungry eyes。
〃But of that word； 'Farewell'〃
〃Of that ill word； this； Hugh： I have a new suitor up yonder； a fine
French suitor； a very great lord indeed； whose wealth； I am told； none
can number。 From his mother he has the Valley of the Waveney up to
Bungay townay； and beyondand from his father； a whole county in
Normandy。 Five French knights ride behind his banner； and with them
ten squires and I know not how many men…at…arms。 There is feasting
yonder at the manor； I can tell you。 Ere his train leaves us our
winter provender will be done； and we'll have to drink small beer till
the wine ships come from France in spring。〃
〃And what is this lord's name？〃
〃God's truth； he has several；〃 she answered。 〃Sir Edmund Acour in
England； and in France the high and puissant Count of Noyon； and in
Italy； near to the city of Venicefor there； too； he has possessions
which came to him through his grandmotherthe Seigneur of Cattrina。〃
〃And having so much； does he want you； too； as I have heard； Eve？ And
if so； why？〃
〃So he swears；〃 she answered slowly； 〃and as for the reason； why； I
suppose you must seek it in my face； which by ill…fortune has pleased
his lordship since first he saw it a month ago。 At the least he has
asked me in marriage of my father； who jumped at him like a winter
pike； and so I'm betrothed。〃
〃And do you want him； Eve？〃
〃Ay； I want him as far as the sun is from the moon or the world from
either。 I want him in heaven or beneath the earth； or anywhere away
from me。〃
At these words a light shone in Hugh's keen grey eyes。
〃I'm glad of that； Eve； for I've been told much of this fine fellow
among