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were borne by no other family or man in Italy； France； or England。
〃Then you would know them if you saw them？〃 said Hugh。
〃Certainly； cavalier。 On it I stake my repute as a herald。〃
Now while all wondered what this talk might mean； the Doge and Acour
most of any； although the latter grew uneasy； fearing he knew not
what； Hugh whispered to Dick。 Then Dick loosed the mouth of the
leather sack he carried； and out of it tumbled on to the marble floor
a whole suit of blood…stained armour。
〃Whence came these？〃 asked Hugh of Dick。
〃Off the body of the night； Sir Pierre de la Roche； whom you slew at
Crecy。 I stripped him of them myself。〃
〃Whose crest and cognizance are these； herald？〃 asked Hugh again；
lifting the helm and shield and holding them on high that all might
see。
The herald stepped forward and examined them。
〃Without doubt；〃 he said slowly； 〃they are those of the lord of
Cattrina。 Moreover；〃 he added； 〃five years ago I limned yonder swan
upon this very shield with my own hand。 I did it as a favour to
Cattrina there； who said that he would trust the task to none but an
artist。〃
Now the silence grew intense； so much so that the rustle of a lady's
dress sounded loud in the great hall。
〃What say you now； my lord of Cattrina？〃 asked the Doge。
〃I say that there is some mistake； Illustrious。 Even if there were
none；〃 he added slowly； 〃for their own good and lawful purposes
knights have changed armour before to…day。〃
〃There is no mistake！〃 cried Hugh in a ringing voice。 〃This signor of
so many names is a signor of many coats also； which he can change to
save his skin。 He wore that of Sir Pierre de la Roche to protect
himself from the vengeance of the King of England and of the English
squire whom he had wronged。 He took mercy from the hand of that
squire； who； as he knew well； would have shown him none had he guessed
the truth。 He left the poor knight； whom he had bribed to be his
double； to die beneath that same squire's hand who thought him named
de Noyon。 Therefore the blood of this de la Roche is on his head。 Yet
these are small matters of private conduct； and one that is greater
overtops them。 This false lord； as Sir Edmund Acour； swore fealty to
Edward of England。 Yet while he was bound by that sacred oath he
plotted to depose Edward and to set up on his throne the Duke of
Normandy。
〃The King of England learned of that plot through me； and gave me
charge to kill or capture the traitor。 But when we came face to face
in a consecrated church where I thought it sacrilege to draw sword；
he； who had just done me bitter wrong； stayed not to answer the wrong。
He slunk away into the darkness； leaving me felled by a treacherous
blow。 Thence he fled to France and stirred up war against his liege
lord under the Oriflamme of King Philip。 Now that this banner is in
the dust he has fled again to Venice； and here； as I have heard；
broods more mischief。 Once； when after the sack of Caen I sent him my
challenge； he returned to me an insolent answer that he did not fight
with merchants' sonshe who could take mercy from the hand of a
merchant's son。
〃Now that for deeds done a King has made me knight； and now that this
King under his seal and sign has named me his champion； in your
presence； Illustrious； and in that of all your Court； I challenge
Cattrina again to single combat to the death with lance and sword and
dagger。 Yes； and I name him coward and scullion if he refuses this；
King Edward's gage and mine；〃 and drawing the gauntlet from his left
hand； Hugh cast it clattering to the marble floor at de Noyon's feet。
A babel of talk broke out in the great hall； and with it some /vivas/
and clapping of hands； for Hugh had spoken boldly and well； moreover；
the spectators read truth in his grey eyes。 A dark figure in priest's
robeit was that of Father Nicholas； the secretary who had brewed Red
Eve's potionglided up to Cattrina and whispered swiftly in his ear。
Then the Doge lifted his hand and there was silence。
〃My lord of Cattrina；〃 he said； 〃Sir Hugh de Cressi； speaking as the
champion of our ally； the King of England； has challenged you to
single combat /？outrance/。 What say you？〃
〃I； Illustrious？〃 he answered in his rich voice； drawling out his
words like one who is weary。 〃Oh； of course； I say that if yon brawler
wishes to find a grave in fair Venice； which is more than he deserves；
I am not the man to thwart him； seeing that his cut…throat King〃
〃As the ambassador of that King I protest；〃 broke in Sir Geoffrey。 〃It
is an insult that such a word should be used before me。〃
〃I accept the protest of his Excellency； who forgot his noble
presence；〃 replied Cattrina bowing back。 〃Seeing that his King； who is
not a cut…throat〃here a titter of laughter went through the company；
though it was evident from the frown upon his face that the Doge liked
the jest ill〃has chosen to make a knight of this de Cressi。 Or so he
says； which will show you； friends all； how hard it must be to find
gentlemen in England。〃
Again the company tittered； though Dick's grey face turned scarlet and
he bit upon his pale lip until the blood ran。
〃As you accept the challenge；〃 broke in the Doge shortly； 〃cease from
gibes； my lord； which more befit an angry woman's mouth than that of
one whose life is about to be put to hazard； and take up the gage of
his Grace of England。〃
Cattrina looked round and bade a page who waited on his person obey
the Doge's command； saying：
〃Your pardon； most Illustrious； if I do not touch that glove myself；
as it seems somewhat foul。 I think it must have served its owner in
his useful labours at the dyer's vat before his master made him
noble。〃
Now it was Hugh's turn to colour； but when he understood the insult
Grey Dick could contain himself no more。
〃Ay； Sir Cheat and Traitor；〃 he said in his hissing voice。 〃The vat in
which it has been dipped was that of the life…blood of your dupe； Sir
Pierre de la Roche； and of many a nobler Norman。 Oh； did we not stand
where we do I'd thrust it down your false throat； and with it twist
out your slanderous tongue。〃
〃Peace； peace！〃 cried the Doge； while those present who understood
English translated Dick's wild words to their neighbours； and Cattrina
laughed mockingly at the success of his sneer。 〃Have I not said that
such words are unseemly？ Ah！ I thought it； well； my lord； you have
brought it on yourself。〃
For while he spoke； the page； a mincing young man tied up with bows
and ribbon like a woman； had lifted the glove。 Holding it between his
thumb and forefinger； he returned it to Hugh with a low； mock bow；
being careful as he did so； as all might see； to tread upon Dick's
foot and hustle him。 Next moment two things happened。 The first was
that； dropping his cased bow； Grey Dick seized that young in his iron
grip and hurled him into the air so that he fell heavily on the marble
floor and lay there stunned； the blood running from his nose and
mouth。 The second was that； seizing his gauntlet； Hugh strode to where
Cattrina stood； and struck him with it across the face； saying：
〃Let your lips kiss what your fingers are too fine to touch。〃
With an