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towed her out to sea and scuttled her； cargo and all。 Well； well；
enough of these wild tales； of which God alone knows the truth。 Come；
eat； if you can in this heat。 We must be on the Place of Arms by half…
past eight。 You and the captain go thither in my own boat； Sir Hugh；
your horse David Day takes on presently。 Now； while you breakfast；
I'll explain to you these articles； one by one； for they are writ in
Italian； which you cannot read。 See you forget them not。 These
Venetians are punctilious of such forms and ceremonies； especially
when the case is that of combat to the death； which is rare among
them。〃
The articles； which were lengthy； had been read； and the breakfast； or
so much as they could eat of it； consumed。 At last Hugh； accompanied
by a Venetian squire of high birth sent by the Doge to bear his casque
and other armour； stood in the vestibule waiting for the ambassador's
barge of state。 With him was Grey Dick； accompanied by no one and
carrying the mail shirt in which he was to fight； like a housewife's
parcel beneath his arm； although he wore bow on back； axe and dagger
at side and iron cap upon his head。
Presently； while they lingered thus； out from a side…door appeared
Lady Carleon； clothed in a white garment such as women wear when their
dressing is half done； down which her grey hair hung dishevelled。
〃I am come thus unkempt； Sir Hugh；〃 she said； 〃for； not feeling well；
I could not rise early； to bid you good…bye； since I am sure that we
shall not meet again。 However much that black…browed Doge may press
it； I cannot go down yonder to see my countrymen butchered in this
heat。 Oh！ oh！〃 and she pressed her hand upon her heart。
〃What's the matter； madam？〃 asked Hugh anxiously。
〃A pain in my breast； that is all； as though some one drove a dagger
through me。 There； there； 'tis gone。〃
〃I thank you for your goodness； Lady Carleon；〃 said Hugh when she was
herself again； then paused； for he knew not what to add。
〃Not so； Sir Hugh； not so； 'tis for your sakes in truth since you
remember you never told me what you would wish doneafterward。 Your
possessions alsowhere are they to be sent？ Doubtless you have money
and other things of value。 Be sure that they shall be sealed up。 I'll
see to it myself； buthow shall I dispose of them？〃
〃Madame； I will tell you when I return；〃 said Hugh shortly。
〃Nay； nay； Sir Hugh； pray do not return。 Those who are gone had best
keep gone； I think； who always have had a loathing of ghosts。
Therefore； I beg you； tell me now； but do not come back shining like a
saint and gibbering like a monkey at dead of night； because if you do
I am sure I shall not understand； and if there is an error； who will
set it straight？〃
Hugh leaned against a marble pillar in the hall and looked at his
hostess helplessly； while Sir Geoffrey； catching her drift at length；
broke in：
〃Cease such ill…omened talk； wife。 Think you that it is of a kind to
give brave men a stomach in a fight to the end？〃
〃I know not； Geoffrey； but surely 'tis better to have these matters
settled； for； as you often say； death is always near us。〃
〃Ay； madam；〃 broke in Grey Dick； who could bear no more of it； 〃death
is always near to all of us； and especially so in Venice just now。
Therefore； I pray you tell mein case we should live and /you/ should
die； you and all about youwhether you have any commands to give as
to what should be done with your gold and articles of value； or any
messages to leave for friends in England。〃
Then； having uttered this grim jest； Dick took his master by the arm
and drew him through the door。
Afterward； for a reason that shall be told； he was sorry that it had
ever passed his lips。 Still in the boat Sir Geoffrey applauded him；
saying that his lady's melancholy had grown beyond all bearing； and
that she did little but prate to him about his will and what colour of
marble he desired for his tomb。
After a journey that seemed long to Hugh； who wished to have this
business over； they came to the Place of Arms。 Their route there；
however； was not the same which they had followed on the previous
night。 Leaving the short way through the low part of the town
untraversed； they rowed from one of the canals into the harbour
itself； where they were joined by many other boats which waited for
them and so on to the quay。 Hugh saw at once that the death ship；
/Light of the East/； was gone； and incautiously said as much to Sir
Geoffrey。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃one of my rowers tells me that they have towed
her to an island out at sea； since the stench from her holds was more
than could be borne。 But how did you know that she lay at this
particular quay； Sir Hugh？〃
〃I thought you said so；〃 he answered carelessly； adding； to change the
subject： 〃Look； our fray will not lack for spectators；〃 and he pointed
to the thousands gathered upon the great tilting…ground。
〃No； no； all Venice will be there； for these people love a show；
especially if there be death in it。〃
〃Mayhap they will see more of him than they wish before all is done；〃
muttered Grey Dick； pausing from the task of whetting his axe's edge
with a little stone which he carried in his pouch。 Then he replaced
the axe in its hanger； and； drawing Hugh's sword from its sheath；
began to give some final touches to its razor edge； saying： 〃Father
Sir Andrew Arnold blessed it； which should be enough； but Milan steel
is hard and his old battle blade will bite none the worse for an extra
sharpening。 Go for his throat； master； go for his throat； the mail is
always thinnest there。〃
〃God above us； what a grim man！〃 exclaimed Sir Geoffrey； and so
thought all in that boat and in those around them。 At least they
looked at Dick askance as he whetted and whetted； and then； plucking
out one of the pale hairs from his head； drew it along the edge of the
steel； which severed it in twain。
〃There！ That'll do；〃 said Grey Dick cheerfully； as he returned the
long sword to its sheath； 〃and God help this Cattrina； I say； for he
comes to his last battle。 That is； unless he runs away；〃 he added
after reflection。
Now they landed and were received by heralds blowing trumpets； and
conducted through a great multitude of people with much pomp and
ceremony to a pavilion which had been pitched for them； where they
must arm and make ready。
This then they did； helped or hindered by bowing squires whose
language they could not understand。
At length； when it lacked but a quarter to the hour of nine； David Day
led Hugh's horse into the wide entrance of the pavilion； where they
examined its armour； bridle； selle and trappings。
〃The beast sweats already；〃 said Hugh； 〃and so do I； who； to tell
truth； dread this heat more than Cattrina's sword。 Pray that they get
to the business quickly； or I shall melt like butter on a hot plate。〃
Then his lance was given to him； a lance that was sharp and strong。
When they had been tested by them both； Hugh mounted the grey and at
the agreed signal of a single blast upon a trumpet； walked it slowly
from the pavilion； Dick going at his side on foot。
At their coming a shout went up from the assembled thousands； for in
truth