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until this be done。 For myself I would defy the Church； but not
for you or for children that might come to us。 Moreover； the holy
father； Sir Andrew； forbids it； saying that God will right all in
His season and that we must not make Him wroth。 Therefore； Hugh；
lover you are； but husband you may not be while de Noyon lives or
until the Pope gives his dispensation of divorce； which latter may
be long in winning； for the knave de Noyon has been whispering in
his ear。 Hugh； this is my counsel： Get you to the King again and
crave his leave to follow de Noyon； for if once you twain can come
face to face I know well how the fray will end。 Then； when he is
dead； return to one who waits for you through this world and the
next。
〃Hugh； I am proud of your great deeds。 No longer can they mock you
as 'the merchant's son；' Sir Hugh。 God be with you； as are my
prayers and love。
〃Eve Clavering。〃
〃I forgot to tell you that Sir Andrew is disturbed in heart。 He
looks into a crystal which he says he brought with him from the
East； and swears he sees strange sights there； pictures of woe
such as have not been since the beginning of the world。 Of this
woe he preaches to the folk of Dunwich； warning them of judgment
to come； and they listen affrighted because they know him to be a
holy man who has a gift from God。 Yet he says that you and I； Eve；
need fear nothing。 May it be so； Hugh。E。〃
Now when he had thought awhile and hidden up Eve's letter； Hugh turned
to his father and asked him what were these sermons that Sir Andrew
preached。
〃I heard but one of them； son；〃 answered Master de Cressi； 〃though
there have been three。 By the Holy Mother！ it frightened me so much
that I needed no more of that medicine。 Nor； to tell truth； when I got
home again could I remember all he said； save that it was of some
frightful ill which comes upon the world from the East and will leave
it desolate。〃
〃And what think folk of such talk； father？〃
〃Indeed； son； they know not what to think。 Most say that he is mad；
others say that he is inspired of God。 Yet others declare that he is a
wizard and that his familiar brings him tidings from Cathay； where
once he dwelt； or perchance； from hell itself。 These went to the
bishop； who summoned Sir Andrew and was closeted with him for three
hours。 Afterward he called in the complainers and bade them cease
their scandal of wizardry； since he was sure that what the holy Father
said came from above and not from below。 He added that they would do
well to mend their lives and prepare to render their account； as for
his part he should also； since the air was thick with doom。 Then he
gave his benediction to the old knight and turned away weeping； and
since that hour none talk of wizardry but all of judgment。 Men in
Dunwich who have quarrelled from boyhood； forgive each other and sing
psalms instead of swearing oaths； and I have been paid debts that have
been owing to me for years； all because of these sermons。〃
〃An awesome tale； truly；〃 said Hugh。 〃Yet like this bishop I believe
that what Sir Andrew says will come to pass； for I know well that he
is not as other men are。〃
That night； by special leave； Hugh waited on the King； and with him
Grey Dick； who was ever his shadow。
〃What is it now； Sir Hugh de Cressi？〃 asked Edward。
〃Sire； after the great battle； nigh upon a year ago； you told me that
I must serve you till Calais fell。 I have served as best I could and
Calais has fallen。 Now I ask your leave to go seek my enemyand yours
Sir Edmund Acour； Count de Noyon。〃
〃Then you must go far； Sir Hugh； for I have tidings that this rogue
who was not ashamed to wear another man's armour； and so save himself
from your sword； is away to Italy this six months gone； where； as the
Seigneur de Cattrina； he has estates near Venice。 But tell me how
things stand。 Doubtless that Red Eve of yoursstrangely enough I
thought of her at Crecy when the sky grew so wondrous at nightfallis
at the bottom of them。〃
〃That is so； Sire；〃 and he told him all the tale。
〃A strange case truly； Sir Hugh；〃 said the King when he had heard it
out。 〃I'll write to Clement for you both； but I doubt me whether you
and your Eve will get justice from him； being English。 England and
Englishmen find little favour at Avignon just now； and mayhap Philip
has already written on behalf of de Noyon。 At the best His Holiness
will shear you close and keep you waiting while he weighs the wool。
No； Red Eve is right： this is a knot soonest severed by the sword。 If
you should find him； de Noyon could scarce refuse to meet you； for you
shall fight him as the champion of our cause as well as of your own。
He's at Venice； for our Envoy there reported it to me； trying to raise
a fresh force of archers for the French。
〃You have leave to go； Sir Hugh； who deserve much more； having served
us well；〃 went on the King。 〃We'll give you letters to Sir Geoffrey
Carleon； who represents us there； and through him to the Doge。
Farewell to you； Sir Hugh de Cressi； and to you； Captain Richard the
Archer。 When all this game is played； return and make report to us of
your adventures； and of how de Noyon died。 The Queen will love to hear
the tale； and your nuptials and Red Eve's shall be celebrated at
Westminster in our presence； for you have earned no less。 Master
Secretary； get your tools； I will dictate the letters。 After they are
signed to…morrow； see them into the hands of Sir Hugh； with others
that I will give him for safe carriage； for alas I have creditors at
Venice。 Make out an open patent also to show that he and this captain
travel as our messengers； charging all that do us service to forward
them upon their journey。〃
Three days later Hugh and Grey Dick； in the character of royal
messengers from the King of England to the Doge of Venice； took
passage in a great vessel bound for Genoa with a cargo of wool and
other goods。 On board this ship before he sailed Hugh handed to his
father letters for Eve and for Sir Andrew Arnold。 Also he received
from him money in plenty for his faring； and bills of exchange upon
certain merchants of Italy； which would bring him more should it be
needed。
Their parting was very sad； since the prophecies of Sir Andrew had
taken no small hold upon Master de Cressi's mind。
〃I fear me greatly； dear son；〃 he said； 〃that we part to meet no more。
Well； such is the lot of parents。 They breed those children that
heaven decrees to them； with toil and thought and fears they rear them
up from infancy； learning to love them more than their own souls； for
their sakes fighting a hard world。 Then the sons go forth； north and
south； and the daughters find husbands and joys and sorrows of their
own； and both half forget them； as is nature's way。 Last of all those
parents die； as also is nature's way； and the half forgetfulness
becomes whole as surely as the young moon grows to full。 Well； well；
this is a lesson that each generation must learn in turn； as you will
know ere all is done。 Although you are my youngest； I'll not shame to
say I have loved you best of all