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〃A fine man；〃 said one lady to another of Hugh； 〃but why does he come
here in dinted armour？〃
〃Oh！ he is English and the English are barbarians who like to be ready
to cut some one's throat；〃 answered her companion。 〃But Holy Jesus！
look at the long fellow with the death's head who walks behind him；
and carries his luggage in a sack。 His face makes my back creep。〃
Fortunately neither Hugh nor Dick understood these and other such
sayings which Sir Geoffrey repeated to them afterward and therefore
walked on with their host unconcerned。 Once； however； Grey Dick nudged
his master and whispered in his ear：
〃Be glad； our man is here。 It is he who mocks us to those popinjays。
Nay； turn not to look； you will see plenty of his sweet face
presently。〃
Now they stood before the chair of state； from which the Doge rose；
and advanced two steps to greet the Ambassador of England。 When these
courtesies were over Sir Geoffrey presented Hugh to him； to whom he
bowed； and Dick； whose salute he acknowledged with a wave of his
jewelled hand。 Afterward they talked； all crowding round to listen；
Sir Geoffrey himself； who spoke Italian well； acting as the
interpreter。
〃You come hither； Cavalier de Cressi；〃 said the Doge； 〃on behalf of
his royal Grace； King Edward； who speaks of you in his letter in terms
of which any knight may well be proud。 We understand that this captain
with you is your companion；〃 and he glanced curiously at Dick out of
the corners of his dark eyes； adding； 〃If those are gifts which he
bears in that leathern sack and the long case in his hand； let our
servants relieve him of them。〃
〃Let his servants leave me alone；〃 growled Grey Dick when this was
translated。 〃Say to this fine lord； Sir Knight； that the gifts in the
sack are not for him； and that which the case scatters he would
scarcely care to have。〃
Sir Geoffrey made some explanation in a low voice； and with a smile
the Doge waved the matter by； then said：
〃Will the noble cavalier be so good as to set out his business； unless
it is for our private ear alone？〃
Hugh answered that it was for the public ear of all Venice； and
especially for that of the lord who was called Sir Edmund Acour in
England； the Count de Noyon in France； and the Seigneur of Cattrina in
Italy。
〃Will you pleased to point out this lord to us；〃 said the Doge；
glancing at the gorgeous throng which was gathered behind them。
〃I cannot； illustrious Doge；〃 answered Hugh； 〃that is； with certainty。
As it chances I have seen his face but twiceonce in a marsh when I
had other things to think of who must watch my enemy's sword； and once
at eve in the corner of a dark chapel； where he had just gone through
the rite of marriage with a lady whom he had drugged； which lady was
my affianced wife。 Often afterward I sought to see that face；
especially in the great fray of Crecy； but failed； in a case which
with your leave I will narrate to you。〃
Now when all that company understood the meaning of these outspoken
words； they swayed to and fro and whispered like reeds in an evening
wind。 Presently above this whispering a soft yet penetrating voice was
heard to say：
〃If this English knight desires to study the poor face of Acour； de
Noyon； and Cattrina； he who owns it is much honoured and prays your
Excellency's leave to wait upon his pleasure。〃
So saying a tall and noble…looking man； who wore the badge of a white
swan worked in pearls upon his rich tunic； stepped forward out of the
ring of courtiers and bowed； first to the Doge and next to Hugh。
De Cressi looked at his handsome face with its quick dark eyes and
little； square…cut； black beard； and answered：
〃I thank you； Sir Edmund Acour； for I take it you are he。 Now I shall
never forget you again； for though a man may shift his armour he
cannot change his countenance〃a saying at which de Noyon coloured a
little and looked down uneasily。
〃Cavalier de Cressi； he whom you seek is before you； we ourselves
vouch for his identity；〃 said the Doge。 〃Now be pleased to set out
your case。〃
〃My private case I thrust to one side；〃 answered Hugh； Sir Geoffrey
interpreting all the time； 〃for it is a matter between this Count； a
certain lady and myself； and can wait。 That which I have to lay before
you； Illustrious； has to do with my master the King of England； as
whose champion I am here to…day。 I accuse this lord of the three names
of black treachery to his august liege； Edward； all details of which
treason I am prepared to furnish； and on behalf of that most puissant
monarch I challenge him to single combat； as I am empowered and
commissioned to do。〃
〃Why should I fight the King of England's bravoes？〃 inquired Acour in
a languid voice of those who stood about him； a question at which they
laughed。
〃If the charge of treason is not sufficient；〃 went on Hugh； 〃I'll add
to it one of cowardice。 At the battle of Crecy； as a man here will
bear me witness；〃 and he pointed to Dick； 〃I overcame in single combat
a knight who wore upon his shield the cognizance of a wolf and on his
helm a wolf's head； which were the arms of Sir Pierre de la Roche。 At
this knight's prayer I spared his life； for that day we took no
prisoners； and let him go。 Afterward I fought with another knight
carrying the cognizance of a white swan； the arms of the Count de
Noyon； and slew him in fair and single fight。 But before he died he
told me that he bore that armour by command of his lord； the Count de
Noyon； and that the said Count fought that day in his mail because he
feared the vengeance of the King of England and my own。 Thus it came
about that the Wolf who fought paid the price for the Swan who fled
away； hid in the armour of his friend； whom he left to die for him。〃
There followed a great silence； for all those noble lords and ladies
who thought little of treason； which to most of them was a very
familiar thing； were not a little stirred by this tale of cowardice
and false arms。 The Doge said：
〃Noble Cattrina； you have heard the story of the English knight。 What
do you answer to it？〃
〃Only that it is a lie； Illustrious； like everything else that he has
told us；〃 replied Acour with a shrug of his broad shoulders。
〃You said that you had a witness； Cavalier de Cressi；〃 said the Doge。
〃Where is he？〃
〃Here；〃 answered Hugh。 〃Stand forward； Dick； and tell what you saw。〃
Dick obeyed； and in his low； rasping voice； with more detail than Hugh
had given； set out the story of those two combats at Crecy； of the
sparing of the wolf knight and the slaying of the swan knight。
〃What say you now； noble Cattrina？〃 asked the Doge。
〃I say that the man lies even better than his master；〃 answered Acour
coolly； and all the Court laughed。
〃Illustrious；〃 said Hugh； 〃doubtless you have some herald at your
Court。 I pray that he may fetch his book and tell us what are the arms
of de Noyon and Cattrina； with all their colourings and details。〃
The Doge beckoned to an officer in a broidered tabard； who with bows；
without needing to fetch any book； described the crest and arms of
Cattrina in full particular。 He added that； to his knowledge； these
were borne by no other family or