CHAPTER IV
THE PENANCE
The tale was done, and these two stood staring at one another from eachside of the glowing hearth, whose red light illumined their faces. Atlength the heavy silence was broken by Sir Andrew.
"I read your heart, Hugh," he said, "as Murgh read mine, for I thinkthat 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 walkunharmed by many a pit. I read your heart, and in its book is writtenthat you think me mad, one who pleases his old age with tales of marvelthat others told him, or which his own brain fashioned."
"Not so, Father," answered Hugh uneasily, for in truth some suchthoughts were passing through his mind. "Only--only the thing is verystrange, and it happened so long ago, before Eve and I were born, beforethose that begot us were born either, perchance."
"Yes; more than fifty years ago--it may be sixty--I forget. In sixtyyears the memory plays strange tricks with men, no doubt, so how can Iblame you if you believe--what you do believe? And yet, Hugh," he wenton after a pause, and speaking with passion, "this was no dream of whichI tell you. Why do you suppose that among all those that have grown upabout me I have chosen you out to love, you and your Eve? Not becausea chance made me your godsire and her my pupil. I say that from yourinfancy your faces haunted me. Ay, and when you had turned childhood'scorner and once I met the pair of you walking hand in hand, then of asudden I knew that it was you two and no others whom that god or devilhad showed to me standing by the open grave upon the banks of Blythe. Iknew it of Dick the Archer also, and can I be mistaken of such a man asthat who has no fellow in England? But you think I dreamed it all, andperhaps I should not have spoken, though something made me speak.Well, in a day to come you may change your mind, since whatever dangersthreaten you will not die yet, Hugh. Tell me now, what is this Frenchmanlike who would marry Eve? I have never seen him."
Hugh, who was glad to get back to the things of earth, described Acouras best he could.
"Ah!" said Sir Andrew. "Much such a man as stood face to face with youby 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 andnow you are wondering how he who is called Gate of the Gods in Cathaycould come to Blythburgh. Well, I think that all the world is hisgarden, given to him by God, but doubtless that's only another face ofmy dream whereof we'll speak no more--at present. Now for your troubles,which are no dream. Lie you down to sleep on the skin of that stripedbeast. I killed it in Cathay--in my day of dreams, and now it shallserve for yours, from which may the dead eyes of John Clavering beabsent! 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, heshowed him a certain secret place large enough to hold a man, then leftthe 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 hehad gone through that day or even the old warrior-priest's marvelloustale, in which he and Eve played so wonderful a part, could keep hiseyes from closing. Presently he was fast asleep, and so remained until,four hours later, something disturbed him, and he awoke to see SirAndrew 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 bydaybreak and keep a whole skin. I have set a taper in my sleeping-closetyonder, and there you'll find water to wash with and a stool to kneel onfor your prayers, neither of which neglect, since you have blood on yourhands and great need for Heaven's help."
So Hugh arose, yawning, and stumbled heavily to the chamber, for he wasstill faint with sleep, which would not leave him till he had plungedhis head into a basin of icy water. This done, he knelt and prayed as hehad been bidden, with a very earnest heart, and afterward came back tothe guest-hall.
Seeing folk gathered there as he entered he laid hand on sword, not hisown with which he had killed his cousin, but a long and knightly weaponthat Sir Andrew had given him with the armour. Drawing it, he advancedboldly, for he thought that his enemies might have found him out, andthat his best safety lay in courage. Thus he appeared in the ring of thelamplight clad in gleaming steel and with raised weapon.
"What, son!" asked a testy voice which he knew for that of his ownfather, "is it not enough to have killed your cousin? Would you fallon your brothers and me also, that you come at us clad in mail and withbare steel in hand?"
Hearing these words Hugh sheathed the sword, and, advancing toward thespeaker, a handsome, portly man, who wore a merchant's robe lined withrich fur, sank to his knee before him.
"Your pardon, my father," he said. "Sir Andrew here will have told youthe 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 andthat 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 herown 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 soreand I sent a messenger to Hugh bidding him meet me in the BlythburghMarsh. There we were set on, and there John Clavering, my brother, smoteHugh in the face. Would you, a de Cressi, have had him take the blow andyield me up to the Frenchman?"
"By God and my forefathers, no! least of all from one of yourstock--saving your presence," answered the merchant. "In truth, had hedone so, dead or living from that day I would have called him no son ofmine. Yet, Red Eve, you and he and your love-makings have brought muchtrouble on me and my House. Look now what it means. A feud to the deathbetween our families of which no man can foresee the end. Moreover, howcan you marry, seeing that a brother's blood runs between you?"
"It is on John's head," she answered sadly, "not on Hugh's hand. Iwarned him, and Hugh spared him once. What more could we do?"
"I know not, Eve; I only know what you have done, you and Hugh and GreyDick. Four dead and two wounded, that's the bill I must discharge asbest I may. Doubtless too soon there will be more to follow, whetherthey be Claverings or de Cressis. Well, we must take things as God sendsthem, and leave Him to balance the account.
"But there is no time to lose if Hugh's neck is to escape a halter.Speak you, Father Andrew, who are wise and old, and have this matter inhand. Oh! Hugh, Hugh, you were born a fighter, not a merchant like yourbrethren," and he pointed to three young men who all this while hadstood silently behind him looking upon their youngest brother with gravedisapproval. "Yes, the old Norman blood comes out in you, and the Normanmail suits you well," he added with a flash of pride, "and so there's anend--or a beginning. Now, Sir Andrew, speak."
"Master de Cressi," said the old priest, "your son Hugh rides to Londonon an errand of mine which I think will save his neck from that halterwhereof you spoke but now. Are those four mounted men that you promisedme ready to companion him?"
"They will be within an hour, Father, but not before, since six goodhorses cannot be laid hands on in the dead of night, being stabledwithout the gates. But what is this message of yours, and to whom doesHugh go?"
"To his Grace Edward the King, none less, Geoffrey de Cressi, with thatwhich shall earn pardon for him and Dick the Archer, or so I believe.As for what it is I may not tell you or any man. It has to do with greatmatters of State that are for the King's ear alone; and I charge you,every one, on your honour and your safety, to make no mention of thismission without these walls. Do you swear, Geoffrey de Cressi, and you,his sons?"
Then one by one they swore to be secret as the grave; and Eve sworealso, though of her he had sought no promise. When this was finished SirAndrew asked if any of his brothers accompanied Hugh, saying that if sothey must arm.
"No," answered Master de Cressi, "one of the family is enough to riskas well as four of our best servants. My sons bide here with me,
who mayneed their help, though they are not trained to arms."
"Perhaps it is as well," said Sir Andrew drily, "though were I theirage--well, let that be. Now, son Hugh, before you eat do you and Evecome with me into the church."
At these words Hugh flushed red with joy, and opened his lips to speak.
"Nay, nay," broke in Sir Andrew, with a frown; "for a different purposeto that which is in your mind. Man, is this a time for marrying andgiving in marriage? And if it were, could I marry you who are stainedwith new-shed blood? 'Tis that you both may be absolved from the guiltof that blood and learn the penance which God decrees to you throughthe mouth of me, His unworthy minister, in payment of its shedding. Thusyou, son, may go forth upon your great adventure with a clean heart, andyou, daughter, may await what shall befall with a quiet mind. Say, areyou willing?"
Now they bowed their heads and answered that they were, though Evewhispered to Hugh that she misdoubted her of this talk of penance.
"So do I," he replied, beneath his breath, "but he is a mercifulconfessor and loves us. From some it might be harder."
They passed down the stairs, followed by Master de Cressi and his sons,into the entrance hall, where Grey Dick stood watching by the door.
"Whither go they?" he asked of Sir Andrew, "for their road is mine."
"To confession at God's altar," answered the old priest. "Do you comealso, Richard?"
"Oh!" he replied, "I hoped it had been to breakfast. As for confession Ihave naught upon my soul save that I shot too low at the Frenchman."
"Bide where you are, O man of blood," said Sir Andrew sternly: "and praythat a better mood be given to you before it is too late."
"Ay, Father," he answered unabashed. "I'll pray, and it is as well thatone should wait to watch the door lest you should all presently becomemen of blood against your will."
Turning to the right, Sir Andrew led them down steps to a passageunderground that joined the Temple to the Church of the Holy Virgin andSt. John. It was but short, and at the end of it they found a massivedoor which he unbolted, and, passing this door, entered the greatbuilding, whereof the silence and the icy cold struck them like blows.They had but two lanterns between them, one of which Master de Cressiand his elder sons took with them to the nave of the church. Bearing theother, Sir Andrew departed into the vestry, leaving Hugh and Eve seatedtogether in the darkness of the chancel stalls.
Presently his light reappeared in the confessional, where he sat robed,and thither at his summons went first Hugh and then Eve. When theirtales were told, those who watched in the nave of the splendidbuilding--which, reared by the Knights Templar, was already followingthat great Order to decay and ruin--saw the star of light he bore ascendto the high altar. Here he set it down, and, advancing to the rail,addressed the two shadowy figures that knelt before him.
"Son and daughter," he said, "you have made confession with contritehearts, and the Church has given you absolution for your sins. Yetpenance remains, and because those sins, though grievous in themselves,were not altogether of your own making, it shall be light. Hugh deCressi and Eve Clavering, who are bound together by lawful love betweenman and woman and the solemn oath of betrothal which you here renewbefore God, this is the penance that I lay upon you by virtue of theauthority in me vested as a priest of Christ: Because between you runsthe blood of John Clavering, the cousin of one of you and the brotherof the other, slain by you, Hugh de Cressi, in mortal combat but yestereve, I decree and enjoin that for a full year from this day you shallnot be bound together as man and wife in the holy bonds of matrimony,nor converse after the fashion of affianced lovers. If you obey this hercommand, faithfully, then by my mouth the Church declares that afterthe year has gone by you may lawfully be wed where and when you will.Moreover, she pronounces her solemn blessing on you both and herdreadful curse upon any and upon all who shall dare to sunder youagainst your desires, and of this blessing and this curse let all thecongregation take notice."
Now Hugh and Eve rose and vanished into the darkness. When they hadgone the priest celebrated a short mass, but two or three prayers and ablessing, which done, all of them returned to the Preceptory as they hadcome.
Here food was waiting for them, prepared by the old Sister Agnes. It wasa somewhat silent meal of which no one ate very much except Grey Dick,who remarked aloud that as this might be his last breakfast it should beplentiful, since, shriven or unshriven, it was better to die upon a fullstomach.
Master de Cressi called him an impious knave. Then he asked him if hehad plenty of arrows, because if not he would find four dozen of thebest that could be made in Norwich done up in a cloak on the grey horsehe was to ride, and a spare bow also.
"I thank you for the arrows, Master, but as for the bow, I use none butmy own, the black bow which the sea brought to me and death alone shallpart from me. Perchance both will be wanted, since the Claverings willscarcely let us out of the sanctuary if they can help it. Still, it istrue they may not know where we lie hid, and that is our best chance ofeating more good breakfasts this side the grave."
"A pest on your evil talk," said de Cressi with an uneasy laugh, forhe loved Hugh best of all his sons and was afraid of him. "Get throughsafely, man, and though I like not your grim face and bloody ways youshall lose little by it. I promise you," he added in a whisper, "that ifyou bring my boy safe home again, you shall not want for all your life;ay, and if there is need, I'll pay your blood-scot for you."
"Thank you, master, thank you. I'll remember, and for my part promiseyou this, that if he does not return safe, Dick the Archer never will.But I think I'll live to shoot more than your four dozen of arrows."
As he spoke there came a knock upon the outer door and every one sprangup.
"Fear not," said Sir Andrew; "doubtless it will be the men with thehorses. I'll go look. Come you with me, Richard."
Presently he returned, saying that it was so, and that Master deCressi's servants were waiting with the beasts in the courtyard. Alsothat they brought tidings that some of the Clavering party were nowat the Mayor's house, rousing him from his sleep, doubtless to layinformation of the slayings and ask for warrant to take those whowrought them, should they be in the borough.
"Then we had best be going," said Hugh, "since soon they will be herewith or without their warrant."
"Ay," answered Sir Andrew. "Here are the papers. Take them, Hugh, andhide them well; and if any accident should befall you, try to passthem on to Richard that they may be delivered into the King's hands atWestminster. Say that Sir Andrew Arnold sends you on business that hasto do with his Grace's safety, and neither of you will be refused ahearing. Then act as he may command you, and maybe ere long we shall seeyou back at Dunwich pardoned."
"I think it is the Claverings and their French lord who need pardon, notI," said Hugh. "But be that as it may, what of Eve?"
"Fear not for Eve, son, for here she bides in sanctuary until theFrenchman is out of England, or perchance," he added grimly, "underEnglish soil."
"Ay, ay, we'll guard the maid," broke in Master de Cressi. "Come! tosaddle ere you be trapped."
So they descended to a back entrance, and through it into the courtyard,where the four armed men waited with six good horses, one of them Hugh'sown. Here he bade farewell to his brothers, to his father, who kissedhim on the brow, and to Sir Andrew, who stretched his hand above hishead in blessing. Then he turned to Eve and was about to embraceher even before that company, when Sir Andrew looked at him, and,remembering the penance that had been laid upon him, he but pressed herhand, whispering:
"God be with you, sweetheart!"
"He is with us all, but I would that you could be with me also," sheanswered in the same low voice. "Still, man must forth to battleand woman must wait and watch, for that is the world's way. Whate'erbefalls, remember that dead or living I'll be wife to no man but you.Begone now ere my heart fails me, and guard yourself well, rememberingthat you bear in your breast not one life, but two."
Then Hugh swung him
self to the saddle of which Grey Dick had alreadytested the girths and stirrup leathers. In another minute the six ofthem were clattering over the stones of Middlegate Street, while theburgesses of Dunwich peeped from their window places, wondering whatknight with armed men rode through their town thus early.
Just as the grey dawn broke they passed the gate, which, there beingpeace in the land, was already open. Fifteen minutes later they wereon the lonely Westleton Heath, where for a while naught was to be heardsave the scream of the curlew and the rush of the wings of the wild-duckpassing landward from the sea. Presently, however, another sound reachedtheir ears, that of horses galloping behind them. Grey Dick pulled reinand listened.
"Seven, I think, not more," he said. "Now, master, do you stand or run,for these will be Clavering horses?"
Hugh thought for a moment. His aim was not to fight, but to get throughto London. Yet if he fled the pursuers would raise the country on themas they came, so that in the end they must be taken, since those whofollowed would find fresh horses.
"It seems best to stand," he said.
"So say I," answered Grey Dick; and led the way to a little hillock bythe roadside on which grew some wind-bent firs.
Here they dismounted and gave their horses into the keeping of one man,while Grey Dick and the others drew their bows from the cases and strungthem. Scarcely had they done so when the mist, lifting in the morningbreeze, showed them their pursuers--seven of them, as Dick hadsaid--headed by one of the French knights, and riding scattered, betweentwo and three hundred yards away. At the same moment a shout told themthat they had been seen.
"Hark now all!" said Hugh. "I would shed no more blood if it may be so,who have earned enough of penance. Therefore shoot at the horses, notat the riders, who without them will be helpless. And let no man harm aClavering unless it be to save his own life."
"Poor sport!" grunted Grey Dick.
Nevertheless, when the Norman knight who led came within two hundredyards, shouting to them in French to surrender, Dick lifted his greatbow, drew and loosed carelessly, as though he shot at hazard, the othersholding their bows till the Claverings were nearer. Yet there was littleof hazard when Grey Dick shot, save to that at which he aimed. Awayrushed the arrow, rising high and, as it seemed, bearing somewhat to theleft of the knight. Yet when it drew near to that knight the wind toldon it and bent it inward, as he knew it would. Fair and full it struckupon the horse's chest, piercing through to the heart, so that down thepoor beast came, throwing its rider to the ground.
"A good shot enough," grumbled Grey Dick. "Still, it is a shame to slaynags of such a breed and let the rogues who ride them go."
But his companions only stared at him almost in awe, while the otherClavering men rode on. Before they had covered fifty paces, again thegreat bow twanged, and again a horse was seen to rear itself up,shaking the rider from its back, and then plunge away to die. Now Hugh'sserving-men also lifted their bows, but Grey Dick hissed:
"Leave them to me! This is fine work, and you'd muddle it!"
Ere the words had ceased to echo another horse was down.
Then, as those who remained still came on, urged by the knight who ranshouting behind them, all loosed, and though some arrows went wide, theend of it was that ere they reached the little mound every Claveringhorse was dead or sore wounded, while on the heath stood or lay sevenhelpless men.
"Now," said Grey Dick, "let us go and talk with these foot-soldiers."
So they went out, all of them, except he who had the horses, and Hughcalled aloud that the first man of the Claverings who lifted a bow ordrew a sword should die without mercy. And he pointed to Grey Dick, whostood beside him, arrow on string.
The Claverings began to talk together excitedly.
"Throw down your weapons!" commanded Hugh.
Still they hesitated. Then, without further warning Dick sent an artfularrow through the cap of one of them, lifting it from his head, andinstantly set another shaft to his string. After this, down went theswords and bows.
"Daggers and knives, too, if it please you, masters!"
Then these followed.
Now Hugh spoke a word to his men, who, going to the dead and dyinghorses, took from them the stirrup-leathers and bridle-reins andtherewith bound the Claverings back to back. But the French knight, inacknowledgment of his rank, they trussed up by himself, having firstrelieved him of his purse by way of fine. As it chanced, however, Hughturned and saw them in the act.
"God's truth! Would you make common thieves of us?" he said angrily."Their weapons and harness are ours by right of war, but I'll hunt theman who steals their money out of my company."
So the purse was restored. When it was safe in the knight's pouch againHugh saluted him, begging his pardon that it should have been touched.
"But how are you named, sir?" he added.
"Sir Pierre de la Roche is my name," replied the knight sadly, and inFrench.
"Then, Sir Pierre de la Roche," said Hugh, "here you and your peoplemust bide until some come to set you free, which, as this place islonely and little crossed in winter, may be to-day or may be to-morrow.When at length you get back to Blythburgh Manor, however, or to Dunwichtown, I trust it to your honour to declare that Hugh de Cressi has dealtwell with you. For whereas he might have slain you every one, as youwould have slain him and his if you could, he has harmed no hair of yourheads. As for your horses, these, to his sorrow, he was obliged to killlest they should be used to ride him down. Will you do this of yourcourtesy?"
"Ay," answered the knight, "since to your gentleness we owe our lives.But with your leave I will add that we were overcome not by men, but bya devil"--and he nodded toward Grey Dick--"since no one who is onlyman can have such hellish skill in archery as we saw yesterday, and nowagain this morning. Moreover," he went on, contemplating Dick's ashenhair and cold eyes set wide apart in the rocky face, like to those of aSuffolk horse, "the man's air shows that he is in league with Satan."
"I'll not render your words into our English talk, Sir Pierre," repliedHugh, "lest he of whom you speak should take them amiss and send youwhere you might learn them false. For know, had he been what yousay, the arrow that lies in your horse's heart would have nailed thebreastplate to your own. Now take a message from me to your lord, SirEdmund Acour, the traitor. Tell him that I shall return ere long, andthat if he should dare to attempt ill toward the Lady Eve, who is mybetrothed, or toward my father and brethren, or any of my House, Ipromise, in Grey Dick's name and my own, to kill him or those who mayaid him as I would kill a forest wolf that had slunk into my sheepfold.Farewell! There is bracken and furze yonder where you may lie warm tillsome pass your way. Mount, men!"
So they rode forward, bearing all the Clavering weapons with them, whicha mile or two further on Grey Dick hid in an empty fox's earth wherehe knew he could find them again. Only he kept the French knight'sbeautiful dagger that was made of Spanish steel, inlaid with gold, andused it to his life's end.
Here it may be told that it was not until thirty-six hours had gone by,as Hugh learned afterward, that a countryman brought this knight andhis companions, more dead than alive, to Dunwich in his wain. As he wastravelling across Westleton Heath, with a load of corn to be ground atthe Dunwich mill, it seemed that he heard voices calling feebly, andguided by them found these unhappy men half buried in the snow that hadfallen on that day, and so rescued them from death.
But when Sir Edmund Acour knew the story of their overthrow and of themessage that Hugh had sent to him, he raved at them, and especiallyat Sir Pierre de la Roche, saying that the worst of young de Cressi'scrimes against him was that he had left such cowardly hounds alive uponthe earth. So he went on madly till Sir John Clavering checked him,bidding him wait to revile these men until he, and not his horse, hadmet Grey Dick's arrows and Hugh de Cressi's sword.
"For," he added, "it may happen then that you will fare no better thanthey have done, or than did John, my son."