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wondrous skill； ran to Dick； clasped him in his arms； and； dragging
the badge from off his breast； tried to pin it to his rough doublet。
The young Prince came and clapped him on the shoulder； saying：
〃Be my man！ Be my man！〃
But Dick only growled； 〃Paws off！ What have I done that I have not
done a score of times before with no fine folk to watch me？ I shot to
please my master and for the honour of Suffolk； not for you； and
because some dogs keep their tails too tightly curled。〃
〃A sulky fellow；〃 said the Prince； 〃but； by heaven； I like him！〃
Then the King pushed his horse through the throng； and all fell back
before his Grace。
〃Richard Archer；〃 he said； 〃never has such marksmanship as yours been
seen in England since we sat upon the throne； nor shall it go
unrewarded。 The twenty angels that you said you would stake last night
shall be paid to you by the treasurer of our household。 Moreover； here
is a gift from Edward of England； the friend of archers； that you may
be pleased to wear；〃 and taking his velvet cap from off his head； the
King unpinned from it a golden arrow of which the barbed head was cut
from a ruby； and gave it to him。
〃I thank you； Sire；〃 said Dick； his pale skin flushing with pride and
pleasure。 〃I'll wear it while I live； and may the sight of it mean
death to many of your enemies。〃
〃Without doubt it will； and that ere long； Richard； for know you that
soon we sail again for France； whence the tempest held us back； and it
is my pleasure that you sail with us。 Therefore I name you one of our
fletchers； with place about our person in our bodyguard of archers。
Jack Green will show you your quarters； and instruct you in your
duties； and soon you shall match your skill against his again； but
next time with Frenchmen for your targets。〃
〃Sire；〃 said Dick； very slowly； 〃take back your arrow； for I cannot do
as you will。〃
〃Why； man？ Are you a Frenchman？〃 asked the King； angrily； for he was
not wont to have his favours thus refused。
〃My mother never told me so； Sire； although I don't know for certain
who my father may have been。 Still； I think not； since I hate the
sight of that breed as a farmer's dog hates rats。 But； Sire； I have a
good master； and do not wish to change him for one who； saving your
presence； may prove a worse； since King's favour on Monday has been
known to mean King's halter on Tuesday。 Did you not promise to whip me
round your walls last night unless I shot as well as I thought I
could； and now do you not change your face and give me golden arrows？〃
At these bold words a roar of laughter went up from all who heard
them； in which the King himself joined heartily enough。
〃Silence！〃 he cried presently。 〃This yeoman's tongue is as sharp as
his shafts。 I am pierced。 Let us hear whom he will hit next。〃
〃You again； Sire； I think；〃 went on Dick； 〃because； after the fashion
of kings； you are unjust。 You praise me for my shooting； whereas you
should praise God； seeing that it is no merit of mine； but a gift He
gave me at my birth in place of much which He withheld。 Moreover； my
master there；〃 and he pointed to Hugh； 〃who has just done you better
service than hitting a clout in the red and a dow beneath the wing；
you forget altogether； though I tell you he can shoot almost as well
as I； for I taught him。〃
〃Dick； Dick！〃 broke in Hugh in an agony of shame。 Taking no heed； Dick
went on imperturbably： 〃And is the best man with a sword in Suffolk；
as the ghost of John Clavering knows to…day。 Lastly； Sire； you send
this master of mine upon a certain business where straight arrows may
be wanted as well as sharp swords； and yet you'd keep me here
whittling them out of ashwood； who； if I could have had my will； would
have been on the road these two hours gone。 Is that a king's wisdom？〃
〃By St。 George！〃 exclaimed Edward； 〃I think that I should make you
councillor as well as fletcher； since without doubt； man； you have a
bitter wit； and； what is more rare； do not fear to speak the truth as
you see it。 Moreover； in this matter； you see it well。 Go with Hugh de
Cressi on the business which I have given him to do； and； when it is
finished； should both or either of you live； neglect not our command
to rejoin us here； orif we have crossed the seain France。 Edward
of England needs the service of such a sword and such a bow。〃
〃You shall have them both； Sire；〃 broke in Hugh； 〃for what they are
worth。 Moreover； I pray your Grace be not angry with Grey Dick's
words； for if God gave him a quick eye； He also gave him a rough
tongue。〃
〃Not I； Hugh de Cressi； for know； we love what is rough if it be also
honest。 It is smooth； false words of treachery that we hate； such
words as are ever on the lips of one whom we send you forth to bring
to his account。 Now to your duty。 Farewell till we meet again； whether
it be here or where all men； true or traitors； must foot their bill at
last。〃
CHAPTER VI
THE SNARE
About noon of the day on which Hugh and his company had ridden for
London； another company entered Dunwichnamely； Sir John Clavering
and many of his folk； though with him were neither Sir Edmund Acour
nor any of his French train。 Sir John's temper had never been of the
best； for he was a man who； whatever his prosperity； found life hard
and made it harder for all those about him。 But seldom had he been
angrier than he was this day； when his rage was mingled with real
sorrow for the loss of his only son； slain in a fight brought about by
the daughter of one of them and the sister of the other and urged for
honour's sake by himself； the father of them both。
Moreover； the marriage on which he had set his heart between Eve and
the glittering French lord whose future seemed so great had been
brought to naught； and this turbulent； hot…hearted Eve had fled into
sanctuary。 Her lover； too； the youngest son of a merchant； had ridden
away to London； doubtless upon some mission which boded no good to him
or his； leaving a blood feud behind him between the wealthy de Cressis
and all the Clavering kin。
There was but one drop of comfort in his cup。 By now； as he hoped；
Hugh and his death's…head； Grey Dick； a spawn of Satan that all the
country feared； and who； men said； was a de Cressi bastard by a witch；
were surely slain or taken by those who followed upon their heels。
Sir John rode to the Preceptory and hammered fiercely on its oaken
door。 Presently it was opened by Sir Andrew Arnold himself； who stood
in the entrance； grey and grim； a long sword girt about his loins and
armour gleaming beneath his monkish robe。
〃What would you； Sir John Clavering； that you knock at this holy house
thus rudely？〃 he asked。
〃My daughter； priest； who； they say； has sheltered here。〃
〃They say well； knight； she has sheltered here beneath the wings of
St。 Mary and St。 John。 Begone and leave her in peace。〃
〃I make no more of such wings than if they were those of farmyard
geese；〃 roared the furious man。 〃Bring her or I will pluck her forth。〃
〃Do so；〃 replied Sir Andrew； 〃if you live to pass this consecrated
sword；〃 and he laid his hand upon its hilt