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never before one so sad。〃
〃Ay；〃 answered Dick； 〃that of the wounded dying on Crecy field was a
May Day revel compared to this； though it is but one old woman who has
gone。 Oh； how heavily they parted who have dwelt together these forty
years！ And 'twas my careless tongue this morning that foretold it as a
jest！〃
In the hall they met the physician； who rushed wild…eyed through the
doorway to ask how his patients fared。
〃Ah！〃 he said to them in French when he knew。 〃Well； signors； that
noble lady has not gone alone。 I tell you that scores of whom I know
are already dead in Venice； swept off by this swift and horrible
plague。 Death and all his angels stalk through the city。 They say that
he himself appeared last night； and this morning on the tilting ground
by the quay； and by God's mercyif He has any left for usI can well
believe it。 The Doge and his Council but now have issued a decree that
all who perish must be buried at once。 See to it； signors； lest the
officers come and bear her away to some common grave； from which her
rank will not protect her。〃
Then he went to visit Sir Geoffrey。 Returning presently； he gave them
some directions as to his treatment； and rushed out as he had rushed
in。 They never saw him again。 Two days later they learned that he
himself was dead of the pest。
That night they buried Lady Carleon in her son's grave； which Dick had
helped to prepare for her； since no sexton could be bribed to do the
work。 Indeed these were all busy enough attending to the interment of
the great ones of Venice。 In that churchyard alone they saw six
buryings in progress。 Also after the priest had read his hurried
Office； as they left the gates； whence Lady Carleon's bearers had
already fled affrighted； they met more melancholy processions heralded
by a torch or two whereof the light fell upon some sheeted and
uncoffined form。
〃'Twixt earthquake and plague Murgh the Helper is helping very well；〃
said Grey Dick grimly； and Hugh only groaned in answer。
Such was the beginning of the awful plague which travelled from the
East to Venice and all Europe and afterward became known by the name
of the Black Death。 Day by day the number of its victims increased；
the hundreds of yesterday were the thousands of the morrow。 Soon the
graveyards were full； the plague pits； long and deep； were full； and
the dead were taken out to sea by shiploads and there cast into the
ocean。 At length even this could not be done； since none were
forthcoming who would dare the task。 For it became known that those
who did so themselves would surely die。
So where folk fell； there they lay。 In the houses were many of them；
they cumbered and poisoned the streets and the very churches。 Even the
animals sickened and perished； until that great city was turned into
an open tomb。 The reek of it tainted the air for miles around； so that
even those who passed it in ships far out to sea turned faint and
presently themselves sickened and died。 But ere they died they bore on
the fatal gift to other lands。
Moreover； starvation fell upon the place。 Though the houses were full
of riches； these would scarce suffice to buy bread for those who
remained alive。 The Doge and some of his Council passed laws to
lighten the misery of the people； but soon few heeded these laws which
none were left to enforce。 The vagabonds and evil…minded men who began
by robbing the deserted houses of jewels； money and plate； ended by
searching them for food and casting aside their treasures as worthless
dross。 It was even said that some of them did worse things； things not
to be named； since in its extremities nature knows no shame。 Only if
bread and meat were scarce； wine remained in plenty。 In the midst of
death menyes； and womenwho perhaps had deserted their wives； their
husbands or their children； fearing to take the evil from them； made
the nights horrible by their drunken blasphemies and revellings； as
sailors sometimes do upon a sinking ship。 Knowing that they must die；
they wished to die merry。
Sir Geoffrey Carleon lived a long while after the death of his wife。
When he passed away at last； ten days or so later； it was painlessly
of the mortification of his broken limb； not of the pest； which went
by him as though it knew that he was already doomed。
All this time Hugh； Grey Dick； and David Day nursed him without
ceasing。 Indeed with the exception of a woman so ancient and
shrivelled that nothing seemed able to harm her any more； no one else
was left in the great /palazzo/； for all the rest of the household had
perished or fled away。 This woman； who was the grandmother of one of
the servants； now dead of the plague； cooked their food。 Of such
provision fortunately there was much laid up in the storerooms for use
in the winter； since Lady Carleon had been a good and provident
housewife。
So those three did not starve； although Sir Geoffrey would touch
little of the salted stuff。 He existed on a few fruits when they could
get them； and after these were gone； on wine mingled with water。
At length came the end。 For two days he had lain senseless。 One night；
however； David； who was watching in his chamber； crept into the room
where Hugh slept hard by and told them that Sir Geoffrey was awake and
calling them。 They rose and went to him。 By the light of the moon
which shone in at the open window； that same window through which Lady
Carleon had looked toward England ere she passed away； they saw him
lying quietly； a happy smile upon his face。
〃Friends；〃 he said in a weak voice； 〃by the mercy of God； I go out of
this hell to heaven； or so I think。 But； if indeed this be not the end
of the world； I hope that you who have lived so long will continue to
live； and I have sent for you to bless you and to thank you both。 In
yonder case are certain papers that have to do with the King's
business。 I pray you deliver them to his Grace if you can and with
them my homage and my thanks for the trust that he has reposed in me。
Tell him what I have not written in the letters〃and here he smiled
faintly〃that I think that few of his creditors in Venice will
trouble him at present； though afterward their heirs； if they have
left any； may do so。 Say； too； to the Doge； who； I believe； still
lives； that I send him my good wishes and respects。 Also that I grieve
that I have not been able to hand him my letters of recall in person；
since the King who summons me sends none。
〃So much for business； but there are two things more： I have no
relatives living save my wife's sister。 Therefore； Sir Hugh and
Captain Richard； I have made you my joint heirs with her； my testament
duly signed and witnessed is in that case with the other papers。 My
wealth is not great。 Still there are certain land and manors in
England； a sum of money placed with a merchant in London； whose name
you will find written in the testament； my plate and gold coin here；
though the former you may not be able to move。 Therefore I charge you
to bury it and return for it later on； if you can。 It is of value；
since all my life I have collected such trinkets。 I beg you to make
provision also for this good lad； David； should he