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red eve-第29章

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of his brothers and some men riding into the market…place。 They
greeted in haste but thankfulness; and something of the tale was told
while they passed on to the house of the Mayor; who; as they thought;
had already been warned of their coming by messengers。 But here
disappointment awaited them; for this officer; a man of wealth and
honour; was; as it chanced; absent on a visit to Norwich; whence it
was said that he would not return for three full days。

〃Now what shall we do?〃 asked Sir Andrew; his face falling。 〃It is
certain that the burgesses of Dunwich will not draw sword in an
unknown quarrel; except upon the direct order of their chief; for
there is no time to collect them and publish the King's warrant。 It
would seem that we must wait till to…morrow and prepare to…night。〃

〃Not I;〃 answered Hugh。 〃The warrant is to me as well as to the Mayor。
I'll leave it with his clerk; which is good delivery; and away to
Blythburgh Manor on the instant with any who will follow me; or
without them。 Come; Dick; for night draws on and we've lost much
time。〃

Now his father tried to dissuade him; but he would not listen; for the
fear in his heart urged him forward。 So the end of it was that the
whole party of themthirteen men in all; counting those that Master
de Cressi brought; rode away across the heath to Blythburgh; though
the horses of Hugh's party being very weary; not so fast as he could
have wished。

Just as the sun sank they mounted the slope of the farther hill on the
crest of which stood the manor…house backed by winds。

〃The drawbridge is down; thanks be to God!〃 said Sir Andrew; 〃which
shows that no attack is feared。 I doubt me; son; we shall find Acour
flown。〃

〃That we shall know presently;〃 answered Hugh。

〃Now; dismount all and follow me。〃

They obeyed; though some of them who knew old Sir John's temper seemed
not to like the business。 Leaving two of their people with the horses;
they crossed the bridge; thinking to themselves that the great house
seemed strangely silent and deserted。 Now they were in the outer
court; on one side of which stood the chapel; and still there was no
one to be seen。 Dick tapped Hugh upon the shoulder; pointing to a
window of this chapel that lay in the shadow; through which came a
faint glimmering of light; as though tapers burned upon the altar。

〃I think there's a burying yonder;〃 he whispered; 〃at which all men
gather。〃

Hugh blanched; for might it not be Eve whom they buried? But Sir
Andrew; noting it; said:

〃Nay; nay; Sir John was sick。 Come; let us look。〃

The door of the chapel was open and they walked through it as quietly
as they could; to find the place; which was not very large; filled
with people。 Of these they took no heed; for the last rays of the
sunlight flowing through the western window; showed them a scene that
held their eyes。

A priest stood before the lighted altar holding his hands in
benediction over a pair who kneeled at its rail。 One of these wore a
red cloak down which her dark hair streamed。 She leaned heavily
against the rail; as a person might who is faint with sleep or with
the ardour of her orisons。 It was Red Eve; no other!

At her side; clad in gleaming mail; kneeled a knight。 Close by Eve
stood her father; looking at her with a troubled air; and behind the
knight were other knights and men…at…arms。 In the little nave were all
the people of the manor and with them those that dwelt around; every
one of them intently watching the pair before the altar。

The priest perceived them at first just as the last word of the
blessing passed his lips。

〃Why do armed strangers disturb God's house?〃 he asked in a warning
voice。

The knight at the altar rails sprang up and turned round。 Hugh saw
that it was Acour; but even then he noted that the woman at his side;
she who wore Eve's garment; never stirred from her knees。

Sir John Clavering glared down the chapel; and all the other people
turned to look at them。 Now Hugh and his company halted in the open
space where the nave joined the chancel; and said; answering the
priest:

〃I come hither with my companions bearing the warrant of the King to
seize Edmund Acour; Count de Noyon; and convey him to London; there to
stand his trial on a charge of high treason toward his liege lord;
Edward of England。 Yield you; Sir Edmund Acour。〃

At these bold words the French knights and squires drew their swords
and ringed themselves round their captain; whereon Hugh and his party
also drew their swords。

〃Stay;〃 cried old Sir Andrew in his ringing voice。 〃Let no blood be
shed in the holy house of God。 You men of Suffolk; know that you
harbour a foul traitor in your bosoms; one who plots to deliver you to
the French。 Lift no hand on his behalf; lest on you also should fall
the vengeance of the King; who has issued his commands to all his
officers and people; to seize Acour living or dead。〃

Now a silence fell upon the place; for none liked this talk of the
King's warrant; and in the midst of it Hugh asked:

〃Do you yield; Sir Edmund Acour; or must we and the burgesses of
Dunwich who gather without seize you and your people?〃

Acour turned and began to talk rapidly with the priest Nicholas; while
the congregation stared at each other。 Then Sir John Clavering; who
all this while had been listening like a man in a dream; suddenly
stepped forward。

〃Hugh de Cressi;〃 he said; 〃tell me; does the King's writ run against
John Clavering?〃

〃Nay;〃 answered Hugh; 〃I told his Grace that you were an honest man
deceived by a knave。〃

〃Then what do you; slayer of my son; in my house? Know that I have
just married my daughter to this knight whom you name traitor; and
that I here defend him to the last who is now my kin。 Begone and seek
elsewhere; or stay and die。〃

〃How have you married her?〃 asked Hugh in a hollow voice。 〃Not of her
own will; surely? Rise; Eve; and tell us the truth。〃

Eve stirred。 Resting her hands upon the altar rails; slowly she raised
herself to her feet and turned her white face toward him。

〃Who spoke?〃 she said。 〃Was it Hugh that Acour swore is dead? Oh!
where am I? Hugh; Hugh; what passes?〃

〃Your honour; it seems; Eve。 They say you are married to this
traitor。〃

〃I married; and in this red robe! Why; that betokens blood; as blood
there must be if I am wed to any man save you;〃 and she laughed; a
dreadful laugh。

〃In the name of Christ;〃 thundered old Sir Andrew; 〃tell me; John
Clavering; what means this play? Yonder woman is no willing wife。
She's drugged or mad。 Man; have you doctored your own daughter?〃

〃Doctored my daughter? I! I! Were you not a priest I'd tear out your
tongue for those words。 She's married and of her own will。 Else would
she have stood silent at this altar?〃

〃It shall be inquired of later;〃 Hugh answered coldly。 〃Now yield you;
Sir Edmund Acour; the King's business comes first。〃

〃Nay;〃 shouted Clavering; springing forward and drawing his sword; 〃in
my house my business comes first。 Acour is my daughter's husband and
so shall stay till death or Pope part them。 Out of this; Hugh de
Cressi; with all your accursed chapman tribe。〃

Hugh walked toward Acour
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