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know ere all is done。 Although you are my youngest； I'll not shame to
say I have loved you best of all； Hugh。 Moreover； I've made such
provision as I can for you； who have raised up the old name to honour；
and who； as I hope； will once more blend the de Cressis and the
Claverings； the foes of three generations； into a single House。〃
〃Speak not so； father；〃 answered Hugh； who was moved almost to tears。
〃Mayhap it is I who shall die； while you live on to a green old age。
At least know that I am not forgetful of your love and kindness；
seeing that after Eve you are dearer to me than any on the earth。〃
〃Ay； ay； after Eve and Eve's children。 Still you'll have a kind
thought for me now and then； the old merchant who so often thwarted
you when you were a wayward ladfor your own good； as he held。 For
what more can a father hope？ But let us not weep before all these
stranger men。 Farewell； son Hugh； of whom I am so proud。 Farewell； son
Hugh；〃 and he embraced him and went across the gangway； for the
sailors were already singing their chanty at the anchor。
〃I never had a father than I can mind；〃 said Grey Dick aloud to
himself； after his fashion； 〃yet now I wish I had； for I'd like to
think on his last words when there was nothing else to do。 It's an
ugly world as I see it； but there's beauty in such love as this。 The
man for the maid and the maid for the manpish！ they want each other。
But the father and the motherthey give all and take nothing。 Oh；
there's beauty in such love as this； so perhaps God made it。 Only；
then； how did He also make Crecy Field； and Calais siege； and my black
bow； and me the death who draws it？〃
The voyage to Genoa was very long； for at this season of the year the
winds were light and for the most part contrary。 At length； however；
Hugh and Dick came there safe and sound。 Having landed and bid
farewell to the captain and crew of the ship； they waited on the head
of a great trading house with which Master de Cressi had dealings。
This signor； who could speak French； gave them lodging and welcomed
them well； both for the sake of Hugh's father and because they came as
messengers from the King of England。 On the morrow of their arrival he
took them to a great lord in authority； who was called a Duke。 This
Duke； when he learned that one was a knight and the other a captain
archer of the English army and that they both had fought at Crecy；
where so many of his countrymenthe Genoese bowmenhad been slain；
looked on them somewhat sourly。
Had he known all the part they played in that battle； in truth his
welcome would have been rough。 But Hugh； with the guile of the
serpent； told him that the brave Genoese had been slain； not by the
English arrows； for which even with their wet strings they were quite
a match （here Dick； who was standing to one side grinned faintly and
stroked the case of his black bow； as though to bid it keep its
memories to itself）； but by the cowardly French； their allies。 Indeed
Hugh's tale of that horrible and treacherous slaughter was so moving
that the Duke burst into tears and swore that he would cut the throat
of every Frenchman on whom he could lay hands。
After this he began to extol the merits of the cross…bow as against
the long arm of the English； and Hugh agreed that there was much in
what he said。 But Grey Dick； who was no courtier； did not agree。
Indeed； of a sudden he broke in； offering in his bad French to fight
any cross…bow man in Genoa at six score yards； so that the Duke might
learn which was the better weapon。 But Hugh trod on his foot and
explained that he meant something quite different； being no master of
the French tongue。 So that cloud passed by。
The end of it was that this Duke； or Doge； whose name they learned was
Simon Boccanera； gave them safe conduct through all his dominion； with
an order for relays of horses。 Also he made use of them to take a
letter to the Doge of Venice； between which town and Genoa； although
they hated each other bitterly； there was at the moment some kind of
hollow truce。 So having drunk a cup of wine with him they bade him
farewell。
Next morning the horses arrived； and with them two led beasts to carry
their baggage； in charge of a Genoese guide。 So they departed on their
long ride of something over two hundred English miles； which they
hoped to cover in about a week。 In fact； it took them ten days； for
the roads were very rough and the pack…beasts slow。 Once； too； after
they had entered the territory of Venice； they were set on in a defile
by four thieves； and might have met their end had not Grey Dick's eyes
been so sharp。 As it was he saw them coming； and； having his bow at
hand； for he did not like the look of the country or its inhabitants；
leaped to earth and shot two of them with as many arrows； whereon the
other two ran away。 Before they went； however； they shot also and
killed a pack…beast； so that the Englishmen were obliged to throw away
some of their gear and go on with the one that remained。
At length； on the eleventh afternoon； they saw the lovely city of
Venice； sparkling like a cluster of jewels； set upon its many islands
amid the blue waters of the Adriatic。 Having crossed some two miles of
open water by a ferry which plied for the convenience of travellers；
they entered the town through the western gate； and inquired as best
they could （for now they had no guide； the Genoese having left them
long before） for the house of Sir Geoffrey Carleon； the English Envoy。
For a long while they could make no one understand。 Indeed； the whole
place seemed to be asleep； perhaps because of the dreadful heat； which
lay over it like a cloud and seemed to burn them to the very bones。
Perplexed and outworn； at last Hugh produced a piece of gold and held
it before a number of men who were watching them idly； again
explaining in French that he wished to be led to the house of the
English ambassador。 The sight of the money seemed to wake their wits；
for two or three of the fellows ran forward quarrelling with each
other； till one of them getting the mastery； seized Hugh's tired horse
by the bridle and dragged it down a side street to the banks of a
broad canal。
Here he called something aloud； and presently two men appeared rowing
a large； flat…bottomed punt from a dock where it was hidden。 Into this
boat the horses and pack…beast were driven； much against their will。
Hugh and Dick having followed them； the three Italians began to punt
them along the canal； which was bordered with tall houses。 A mile or
so farther on it entered another canal； where the houses were much
finer and built in a style of which they had never seen the like； with
beautiful and fantastic arches supported upon pillars。
At length to their great joy they came opposite to a house over the
gateway of which； stirless in the still air； hung a flag whereon were
blazoned the leopards of England。 Here the boatmen； pulling in their
poles； save one to which they made the punt fast in mid…stream； showed
by their gestures that they desired to be paid。 Hugh handed the piece
of gold to the man who had led them to the boat； whereon he was seized
with a fit of uncon