red eve-第11章
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〃Ay； much。 For instance； a hollow in the Marsh； an open grave； and an
axe； yes； an axe that had delved it where the bog was soft beneath the
snow。 Grey Dick held the axe in one hand and his black bow in the
other； while Red Eve； your Eve； stood at its edge and stared into it
like one in a dream。 Then at the head of the grave an old； old man
clad in mail beneath his priestly robes； and that man /myself/； Hugh；
grown very ancient； but still myself； and no other。
〃And at the foot of the grave /you/； Hugh de Cressi； you and no other；
wayworn and fierce； but also clad in mail； and wearing a knight's
crest upon your shield。 You with drawn sword in hand； and facing you；
also with drawn sword； rage and despair on his dark face； a stately；
foreign…looking man； whom mine eyes have never seen； but whom I should
know again midst a million； a man who； I think； was doomed to fill the
grave。
〃Lastly； standing on a little mound near to the bank of the swirling
river； where jagged sheets of ice ground against each other like the
teeth of the wicked in hell； strangely capped and clad in black； his
arms crossed upon his breast and a light smile in his cold eyes； he
who was called Murgh in Cathay； he who named himself Gateway of the
Gods！
〃For a moment I saw； then all was gone； and I found myselfI know not
whywalking toward the mighty arch whereon sat the iron dragons。 In
its shadow I turned and looked back。 There at the head of the pool the
man was seated in his chair； and to right and to left of him came the
black doves and the white doves in countless multitudes； all the
thousands of them that had been stayed in their flight pouring down
upon him at onceor so I thought。 They wheeled about his head； they
hid his face from me； and II departed into the shadow of the arch；
and I saw him and them no more。〃
CHAPTER IV
THE PENANCE
The tale was done； and these two stood staring at one another from
each side of the glowing hearth； whose red light illumined their
faces。 At length the heavy silence was broken by Sir Andrew。
〃I read your heart； Hugh；〃 he said； 〃as Murgh read mine； for I think
that he gave me not only strength； but something of his wisdom also；
whereby I was able to win safe back to England and to this hour to
walk unharmed by many a pit。 I read your heart； and in its book is
written that you think me mad； one who pleases his old age with tales
of marvel that others told him； or which his own brain fashioned。〃
〃Not so； Father；〃 answered Hugh uneasily； for in truth some such
thoughts were passing through his mind。 〃Onlyonly the thing is very
strange； and it happened so long ago； before Eve and I were born；
before those that begot us were born either； perchance。〃
〃Yes； more than fifty years agoit may be sixtyI forget。 In sixty
years the memory plays strange tricks with men； no doubt； so how can I
blame you if you believewhat you do believe？ And yet； Hugh；〃 he went
on after a pause； and speaking with passion； 〃this was no dream of
which I tell you。 Why do you suppose that among all those that have
grown up about me I have chosen you out to love； you and your Eve？ Not
because a chance made me your godsire and her my pupil。 I say that
from your infancy your faces haunted me。 Ay； and when you had turned
childhood's corner and once I met the pair of you walking hand in
hand； then of a sudden I knew that it was you two and no others whom
that god or devil had showed to me standing by the open grave upon the
banks of Blythe。 I knew it of Dick the Archer also； and can I be
mistaken of such a man as that who has no fellow in England？ But you
think I dreamed it all； and perhaps I should not have spoken； though
something made me speak。 Well； in a day to come you may change your
mind； since whatever dangers threaten you will not die yet； Hugh。 Tell
me now； what is this Frenchman like who would marry Eve？ I have never
seen him。〃
Hugh； who was glad to get back to the things of earth； described Acour
as best he could。
〃Ah！〃 said Sir Andrew。 〃Much such a man as stood face to face with you
by the grave while Murgh watched； and you are not likely to be
friends； are you？ But I forgot。 You have determined that it was but a
dream and now you are wondering how he who is called Gate of the Gods
in Cathay could come to Blythburgh。 Well； I think that all the world
is his garden； given to him by God； but doubtless that's only another
face of my dream whereof we'll speak no moreat present。 Now for your
troubles； which are no dream。 Lie you down to sleep on the skin of
that striped beast。 I killed it in Cathayin my day of dreams； and
now it shall serve for yours； from which may the dead eyes of John
Clavering be absent！ I go forth to seek your father and to arrange
certain matters。 With Grey Dick at the door you'll be safe for a
while； I think。 If not； here's a cupboard where you may hide。〃 And；
drawing aside the arras； he showed him a certain secret place large
enough to hold a man； then left the room。
Hugh laid himself upon the skin of the beast； which had been a tiger；
though he did not know it by that name。 So weary was he that not all
he had gone through that day or even the old warrior…priest's
marvellous tale； in which he and Eve played so wonderful a part； could
keep his eyes from closing。 Presently he was fast asleep； and so
remained until； four hours later； something disturbed him； and he
awoke to see Sir Andrew writing at a desk。
〃Rise； my son；〃 said the old priest without looking up from his paper。
〃Early as it is you must be stirring if you would be clear of Dunwich
by daybreak and keep a whole skin。 I have set a taper in my sleeping…
closet yonder； and there you'll find water to wash with and a stool to
kneel on for your prayers； neither of which neglect； since you have
blood on your hands and great need for Heaven's help。〃
So Hugh arose； yawning； and stumbled heavily to the chamber； for he
was still faint with sleep； which would not leave him till he had
plunged his head into a basin of icy water。 This done； he knelt and
prayed as he had been bidden； with a very earnest heart； and afterward
came back to the guest…hall。
Seeing folk gathered there as he entered he laid hand on sword； not
his own with which he had killed his cousin； but a long and knightly
weapon that Sir Andrew had given him with the armour。 Drawing it； he
advanced boldly； for he thought that his enemies might have found him
out； and that his best safety lay in courage。 Thus he appeared in the
ring of the lamplight clad in gleaming steel and with raised weapon。
〃What； son！〃 asked a testy voice which he knew for that of his own
father； 〃is it not enough to have killed your cousin？ Would you fall
on your brothers and me also； that you come at us clad in mail and
with bare steel in hand？〃
Hearing these words Hugh sheathed the sword； and； advancing toward the
speaker； a handsome； portly man； who wore a merchant's robe lined with
rich fur； sank to his knee before him。
〃Your pardon； my father；〃 he said。 〃Sir Andrew here will have told you
the story； also that I am not to blame for this blood…shedding。〃
〃I think you need to ask it；〃 replied Master de Cressi； 〃and if you
and that lean henchman of yours are not to blame； then say who is？〃
Now a tall； slim figure glided up to them。 It was Eve； clothed in her
own robe again； and beautiful as ever after her short rest。
〃Sir； I am to blame；〃 she said in her full； low voice。 〃My need was
sore and I sent a messenger to Hugh bidding him meet me in the
Blythburgh Marsh。 There we were set on； and there John Clavering； my
brother； smote Hugh in the face。 Would you； a de Cressi； have had him
take the blow and yield me up to the Frenchman？〃
〃By God and my forefathers； no！ least of all from one of your stock
saving your presence；〃 answered the merchant。 〃In truth； had he done
so； dead or living from that day I would have called him no son of
mine。 Yet； Red Eve； you and he and your love…makings have brought much
trouble on me and my House。 Look now what it means。 A feud to the
death between our families of which no man can foresee the
