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the just reward of their witchcraft。 I have a note of all the facts；
which include the slaying of sundry good Christians on behalf of the
said Jews。〃
〃Jews？ Why； that is enough to hang them in these times。 But what do
they here and where do they lodge？〃
〃Like your lordship they strive to see the Pope。 They desire that an
alleged marriage between one Sir Edmund Acour； Count of Noyon and
Seigneur of Cattrina； and one lady Eve Clavering； an Englishwoman； may
be declared null and void。 As they have been so good as to honour me
with their confidence and appoint me their agent； I am able to detail
the facts。 Therefore I will tell you at once that the case of this
knight de Cressi appears to be excellent； since it includes the
written confession of a certain Father Nicholas； of whom perhaps you
have heard。〃
〃The written confession of Nicholas！ Have you seen it？〃
〃Not as yet。 So far I have been trusted with no original documents。 Is
it your will that I should try to possess myself of these？ Because； if
so； I will do my best； provided〃 and he looked at the pocket of
Acour's robe。
〃How much？〃 asked Acour。 The man named a great sum； half to be paid
down and half on the delivery of the papers。
〃I'll double it；〃 said Acour； 〃if you can bring it about that these
insolent Englishmen dieof the pest。〃
〃How can I do that； lord？〃 asked Basil with a sour smile。 〃Such tricks
might work backward。 I might die； or you。 Still these men have
committed crimes； and just now there is a prejudice against Jews。〃
〃Ay；〃 said Acour； 〃the Englishmen are sorcerers。 I tell you that in
Venice they were seen in the company of that fiend of the yellow cap
and the fur robe who appears everywhere before the pest。〃
〃Prove it；〃 exclaimed Basil； 〃and the citizens of Avignon will rid you
of their troubling。〃
Then they debated long together and the end of it was that Basil
departed； saying that he would return again on the morrow and make
report as to certain matters。
CHAPTER XVII
A MEETING
Hugh； Grey Dick； and David； trudged up and down through the streets of
Avignon。 All that long day they trudged seeking news and finding
little。 Again and again they asked at the inns whether a knight who
bore the name of Acour； or de Noyon； or Cattrina； was or had been a
guest there； but none whom they asked seemed to know anything of such
a person。
They asked it of citizens； also of holy priests； good men who；
careless of their own lives； followed biers or cartloads of dead
destined to the plague pit or the river that they might pronounce over
them the last blessings of the Church。 They asked it of physicians；
some few of whom still remained alive； as they hurried from house to
house to administer to the sick or dying。 But all of these either did
not answer at all or else shrugged their shoulders and went on their
melancholy business。 Only one of them called back that he had no time
to waste in replying to foolish questions； and that probably the
knight they sought was dead long ago or had fled from the city。
Another man； an officer of customs； who seemed half dazed with misery
and fear； said that he remembered the lord Cattrina entering Avignon
with a good many followers； since he himself had levied the customary
tolls on his company。 As for how long it was ago he could not say；
since his recollection failed himso much had happened since。 So he
bade them farewell until they met in heaven； which； he added；
doubtless would be soon。
The evening drew on。 Wearily enough they had trudged round the great
Roche des Doms； looking up at the huge palace of the Pope； where the
fires burned night and day and the guards watched at the shut gates；
that forbidden palace into which no man might enter。 Leaving it； they
struck down a street that was new to them； which led toward their
borrowed dwelling of the Bride's Tower。 This street was very empty
save for a few miserable creatures； some of whom lay dead or dying in
the gutters。 Others lurked about in doorways or behind the pillars of
gates； probably for no good purpose。 They heard the footsteps of a man
following them who seemed to keep in the shadow； but took no heed；
since they set him down as some wretched thief who would never dare to
attack three armed men。 It did not occur to them that this was none
other than the notary Basil； clad in a new robe； who for purposes of
his own was spying upon their movements。
They came to a large； ruinous…looking house； of which the gateway
attracted Grey Dick's sharp eyes。
〃What does that entrance remind you of； master？〃 he asked。
Hugh looked at it carelessly and answered：
〃Why； of the Preceptory at Dunwich。 See； there are the same arms upon
the stone shield。 Doubtless once the Knights Templar dwelt there。 Sir
Andrew may have visited this place in his youth。〃
As the words left his lips two men came out of the gateway； one of
them a physician to judge by the robe and the case of medicines which
he carried； the other a very tall person wrapped in a long cloak。 The
physician was speaking。
〃She may live or she may die；〃 he said。 〃She seems strong。 The pest；
you say； has been on her for four days； which is longer than most
endure it； she has no swellings； and has not bled from the lungs；
though； on the other hand； she is now insensible； which often precedes
the end。 I can say no more； it is in the hands of God。 Yes； I will ask
you to pay me the fee now。 Who knows if you will be alive to do so
to…morrow？ If she dies before then I recommend you to throw her into
the river； which the Pope has blessed。 It is cleaner burial than the
plague pit。 I presume she is your grand…daughtera beautiful woman。
Pity she should be wasted thus； but many others are in a like case。 If
she awakes give her good food； and if you cannot get thatwine； of
which there is plenty。 Five gold piecesthank you；〃 and he hurried
away。
〃Little have you told me； physician； that I did not know already；〃
said the tall hooded figure； in a deep voice the sound of which
thrilled Hugh to his marrow。 〃Yet you are right； it is in the hands of
God。 And to those hands I trustnot in vain； I think。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Hugh addressing him out of the shadow in which he stood；
〃be pleased to tell me； if you will； whether you have met in this town
a knight of the name of Sir Edmund Acour； for of him I am in search？〃
〃Sir Edmund Acour？〃 answered the figure。 〃No； I have not met him in
Avignon； though it is like enough that he is here。 Yet I have known of
this knight far away in England。〃
〃Was it at Blythburgh； in Suffolk； perchance？〃 asked Hugh。
〃Ay； at Blythburgh in Suffolk； but who are you that speak in English
and know of Blythburgh in Suffolk？〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Hugh； 〃what do you here； Sir Andrew Arnold？〃
The old man threw back his hood and stared at him。
〃Hugh de Cressi； by Christ's holy Name！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Yes； and
Richard the archer； also。 The light is bad； I did not see your faces。
Welcome； Hugh； thrice welcome；〃 and he threw his arms about him and
embraced him。 〃Come； enter my lodgings； I have much to say to you。〃
〃One thing I desire to lea