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snatched from it her husband's burnt…off hand and hid it in the bosom
of her filthy robe。 Then she took some of the white ashes and threw
them toward that city； muttering curses as she did so。
〃What do you？〃 asked Hugh curiously。
〃I pray； sir； to Jehovah； the God of the Jews； that for every grain of
these ashes He may take a life in payment for that of my murdered
husband； and I think that He will listen。〃
〃Like enough；〃 answered Hugh； crossing himself； 〃but； woman； can you
wonder that we Christians hold you sorcerers when we hear such prayers
from your lips？〃
She turned with a tragic motion； and； pointing to the bones of her
husband smouldering in the fire； answered：
〃And can you wonder； sir； that we wretched creatures utter such
prayers when you； our masters； do such deeds as this？〃
〃No；〃 answered Hugh； 〃I cannot。 Let us be going from this shambles。〃
So they went； a melancholy procession if ever there one was seen upon
this earth。 As the three Englishmen marched behind the horses with
their weeping burdens Grey Dick reflected aloud after his fashion。
〃Jew and Christian！〃 he said。 〃The Jews killed one Man who chanced to
be a God； though they knew it not； and ever since the Christians have
killed thousands of the Jews。 Now； which is the most wicked； those
Jews who killed the Man Who was a God； because He said He was a God；
or those Christians who throw a man into a fire to burn before his
wife's and children's eyes？ A man who never said that he was a god；
but who； they said； put poison into their wells； which he did not do；
but which they believed he did because he was one of the race that
thirteen hundred years ago killed their God？ Ah； well！ Jew and
Christian； I think the same devil dwells in them all； but Murgh alone
knows the truth of the matter。 If ever we meet again； I'll ask him of
it。 Meanwhile； we go to Avignon in strange company； whereof all the
holy priests yonder； if any of them still live； to say nothing of the
people； may demand an account of us。〃
So spoke Dick as one who seeks an answer； but neither of his
companions gave him any。
On they went through the ruined land unpursued； although they had just
brought sundry men to their deaths。 For now neither law nor justice
was left and those killed who could and those died who must； unwept
and unavenged。 Only certain travellers； flying they knew not whither；
flying from doom to doom； eyed them with hate and loathing because of
their companions。 Those who consorted with Jews must； they thought； be
the enemies of every Christian soul。
Well was it for them perhaps that the early winter night was closing
in when they reached the wonderful bridge of St。 B閚閦et； now quite
unguarded； since a worse foe reigned in Avignon than any that it could
fear from without。 They crossed it； unnoted； for here none lingered in
the gloom and rain save one poor woman； who called out to them that
all she loved were dead and that she went to seek them。 Then； before
they could interfere； she scrambled to the parapet of the bridge and
with a wild cry leapt into the foaming waters that rushed beneath。
〃God forgive and rest her！〃 muttered Hugh； crossing himself。 The
others only shrugged their shoulders。 Such dreadful sights fed their
eyes daily till they learned to take little note of them。
In a deserted place on the farther side of the bridge they halted； and
Hugh said to the Jewish widow：
〃Woman； here is Avignon； where you tell us there are those who will
befriend you； so now let us part。 We have done what we can for you and
it is not safe either for you or for us that we should be seen
together in this Christian city。〃
〃Sir； you speak well；〃 she answered。 〃Be pleased ere we separate； to
meet no more perchance； to tell me your names that I may remember them
and hand them down among my people from generation to generation。〃
So he told her； and thrust onto her a gift of money and the most of
such food as remained to them。 Then the poor woman lifted up her arms
and said：
〃I； Rebecca； daughter of Onias and wife of Nathan； call down on you；
Hugh de Cressi； Richard Archer and David Day； and on your children
forever； the blessings of Jehovah； because you have rescued the widow
and her children from the fire and avenged the murder of the husband
and the father。 O God of my people； as Thou didst save Lot and his
house from the flames of Sodom； so save these true…hearted and
merciful men！ Turn from them the sword of Thy wrath when it smites the
sinful cities！ Cast the cloak of Thy protection about them and all
they love！ Prosper their handiwork in peace and in war； fulfil their
desire upon their enemies； and at last let them die full of years and
honour and so be gathered into Thy eternal bosom！ Thus prayeth
Rebecca； the daughter of Onias； and thus shall it be。〃
Then； leading her children； she turned and vanished into the darkness。
〃Now；〃 said Dick when she had gone； 〃although they were spoken by a
Jew whom men call accursed because their forefathers； fulfilling
prophecy； or some few of them； wrought a great crime when the world
was young and thereby brought about the salvation of mankind； as we
believe； those are among the most comfortable words to which my ears
have listened； especially such of them as dealt with the fulfilling of
our desire upon our enemies in war。 Well； they are spoke； and I doubt
not registered in a book which will not be lost。 So； master； let us
seek a lodging in this city of Avignon； which； for my part； I do with
a light heart。〃
Hugh nodded； and his heart also was lightened by those words of
blessing and good omen。 Mounting their horses； they took a street that
led them past the great Roches des Doms； on the crest of which stood
the mighty palace of the Popes； as yet unfinished； but still one of
the vastest buildings they had ever seen。 Here on the battlements and
in front of the gateway burned great fires； lit by order of his
Holiness to purify the air and protect him and his Court from the
plague。
Leaving this place on their right they rode slowly along one of the
principal streets of the town； seeking an inn。 Soon they found one； a
large place that had a sign on which three shepherds were painted； and
turned to enter its gateway。 But； when they saw them； out of that
gateway rushed a mob of frantic people waving swords and cudgels； and
saying that they would have no strangers there to bring the Death
among them。
〃Let us go on；〃 said Hugh； 〃for here it seems we are not welcome。〃
So they went and tried three other inns in turn。 At two of them they
met with a like greeting； but the doors of the third were closed and
the place was deserted。 Then； for a crowd began to gather round them；
wearily enough they turned up another street at hazard。 Thus they
wended their way back toward the great central rock； thinking that
there they might find some more hospitable tavern。
Following this new street； they reached a less crowded suburb of the
town； where large dwellings stood in their own gardens。 One of these；
they saw by the flare of some of those fires which burned all about
the city in this time of pestilence； seemed to be a small cas