按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Do so；〃 replied Sir Andrew； 〃if you live to pass this consecrated
sword；〃 and he laid his hand upon its hilt。 〃Take with her also the
curse of the Mother of God； and His beloved Apostle； and that of the
whole Church of Christ； by me declared upon your head in this world
and upon your soul in the world to come。 Man； this is sanctuary； and
if you dare to set foot within it in violence； may your body perish
and your soul scorch everlastingly in the fires of hell。 And you；〃 he
added； raising his voice till it rang like a trumpet； addressing the
followers of Sir John； 〃on you also let the curse of excommunication
fall。 Now slay me and enter if you will； but then every drop of blood
in these veins shall find a separate tongue and cry out for vengeance
on you before the judgment seat of God； where presently I summon you
to meet me。〃
Then he crossed himself； drew the great sword； and； holding it in his
left hand； stretched out his right toward them in malediction。
The Clavering men heard and saw。 They looked at each other； and； as
though by common consent； turned and rode away； crossing themselves
also。 In truth； they had no stomach for the curse of the Church when
it was thundered forth from the lips of such a monk as Sir Andrew
Arnold； who； they knew well； had been one of the greatest and holiest
warriors of his generation； and； so said rumour； was a white wizard to
boot with all the magic of the East at his command。
〃Your men have gone； Sir John；〃 said the old priest； 〃will you follow
them or will you enter？〃
Now fear drove out the knight's rage and he spoke in another voice。
〃Sir Andrew； why do you bring all these wrongs upon me？ My boy is dead
at the hand of Hugh de Cressi； your godson； and he has robbed me of my
daughter； whom I have affianced to a better and a nobler man。 Now you
give her sanctuary and threaten me with the curse of the Church
because I would claim her； my own flesh and blood； ay； and my heiress
too to…day。 Tell me； as one man to another； why do you do these
things？〃
〃And tell me； Sir John Clavering； why for the sake of pelf and of
honours that you will never harvest do you seek to part those who love
each other and whom God has willed to bring together？ Why would you
sell your child to a gilded knave whom she hates？ Nay； stop me not。
I'd call him that and more to his face and none have ever known me
lie。 Why did you suffer this Frenchman or your dead son； or both of
them； to try to burn out Hugh de Cressi and Red Eve as though they
were rats in rubbish？〃
〃Would you know； Father？ Then I'll tell you。 Because I wish to see my
daughter set high among lords and princes and not the wife of a
merchant's lad； who by law may wear cloth only and rabbit fur。
Because； also； I hate him and all his kin； and if this is true of
yesterday； how much more true is it now that he has killed my son； and
by the arrows of that wolf…man who dogs his heels； slain my guests and
my grieve。 Think not I'll rest till I have vengeance of him and all
his cursed House。 I'll appeal to the King； and if he will not give me
justice I'll take it for myself。 Ay； though you are old； I tell you
you shall live to see the de Cressi vault crowded with the de Cressi
dead。〃
Sir Andrew hid his eyes for a moment with his hand； then let it fall
and spoke in a changed voice。
〃It comes upon me that you speak truth； Sir John； for since I met a
certain great Master in the East； at times I have a gift of foresight。
I think that much sorrow draws near this land； ay； and others。 I think
that many vaults and many churchyards； too； will ere long be filled
with dead； also that the tomb of the Claverings at Blythburgh will
soon be opened。 Mayhap the end of this world draws near to all men； as
surely it draws near to you and me。 I know notyet truth was in your
lips just now； and in mine as well； I think。 Oh； man； man！〃 he went on
after a pause； 〃appeal not unto the world's C鎠ar lest C鎠ar render
different judgment to that which you desire。 Get you home； and on your
knees appeal unto God to forgive you your proud； vengeance…seeking
heart。 Sickness draws near to you； death draws near to you； and after
death； hellor heaven。 I have finished。〃
As he heard these words Sir John's swarthy face grew pale and for a
little while his rage died down。 Then it flared up again。
〃Don't dream to frighten me with your spells； old wizard；〃 he said。
〃I'm a hale man yet； though I do lose my breath at times when my mind
is vexed with wrongs； and I'll square my own account with God without
your help or counsel。 So you'll not give me my daughter？〃
〃Nay； here she bides in sanctuary for so long as it shall please her。〃
〃Does she in truth？ Perhaps you married her to this merchant fellow
ere he rode this morning。〃
〃Nay； Sir John； they betrothed themselves before the altar and in
presence of his kin； no more。 Moreover； if you would know； because of
your son's blood which runs between them I； after thought and prayer；
speaking in the name of the Church； swore them to this penancethat
for a year from yesterday they should not wed nor play the part of
lovers。〃
〃I thank you； priest； for this small grace；〃 answered Sir John； with a
bitter laugh； 〃and in my turn I swear this； that after the year they
shall not wed； since the one of them will be clay and the other the
wife of the man whom I have chosen。 Now； play no tricks on me； lest I
burn this sanctuary of yours about your head and throw your old
carcass to roast among the flames。〃
Sir Andrew made no reply； only； resting his long sword on the
threshold； he leant upon its hilt； and fixed his clear grey eyes upon
Clavering's face。 What Sir John saw in those eyes he never told； but
it was something which scared him。 At least that shortening of the
breath of which he had spoken seemed to take a hold of him； for he
swayed upon his horse as though he were about to fall； then；
recovering； turned and rode straight for Blythburgh。
It was the second night after that day when Sir Andrew had looked John
Clavering in the eyes。
Secretly and in darkness those three whom Grey Dick had killed were
borne into the nave of Blythburgh church and there laid in the grave
which had been made ready for them。 Till now their corpses had been
kept above ground in the hope that the body of John Clavering the
younger might be added to their number。 But search as they would upon
seashore and river…bank； nothing of him was ever seen again。 This
funeral was celebrated in the darkness； since neither Sir John nor
Acour desired that all men should see three bodies that had been slain
by one archer； aided by a merchant's lad； standing alone against a
score； and know； to say naught of the wounded； that there was yet
another to be added to the tale。 Therefore they interred them by night
with no notice of the ceremony。
It was a melancholy scene。 The nave of the great church； lighted only
with the torches borne by the six monks of the black Augustines from
the neighbouring priory of St。 Osyth； the candles； little stars of
light； burning far away upon the altar； the bearers of the household
of the Claverings and the uncoffined corpses lying on t