Red Eve

  When Master de Cressi and his people were gone, having first searchedthe great manor-house and found none in it save a few serving-men andwomen, whom he swore to put to death if they disobeyed him, Grey Dickraised the drawbridge. Then, all being made safe, he set a watch uponthe walls and saw that there was wood in the iron cradle on the topmosttower in case it should be needful to light the beacon and bring aid.But it was not, since the sun rose before any dared to draw near thosewalls, and then those that came proved to be friendly folk from Dunwichbearing the ill news that the Frenchmen were clean away.

  About midnight the door of the chamber in which Sir Andrew knelt by abed whereon lay Hugh de Cressi opened and the tall Eve entered, bearinga taper in her hand. For now her mind had returned to her and she knewall.

  "Is he dead, Father?" she asked in a small, strange voice; then, stillas any statue, awaited the answer that was more to her than life.

  "Nay, daughter. Down on your knees and give thanks. God, by the skill Igained in Eastern lands, has stayed the flow of his life's blood, and Isay that he will live."

  Then he showed her how her father's sword had glanced from the shorthood of chain-mail which he had given Hugh, stunning him, but leavingthe skull unbroken. Biting into the neck below, it had severed the outervein only. This he had tied with a thread of silk and burned with a hotiron, leaving a scar that Hugh bore to his death, but staunching theflow of blood.

  "How know you that he will live?" asked Eve again, "seeing that he lieslike one that is sped."

  "I know it, daughter. Question me no more. As for his stillness, it isthat which follows a heavy blow. Perhaps it may hold him fast many days,since certainly he will be sick for long. Yet fear nothing; he willlive."

  Now Eve uttered a great sigh. Her breast heaved and colour returned toher lips. She knelt down and gave thanks as the old priest-knight hadbidden her. Then she rose, took his hand and kissed it.

  "Yet one more question, Father," she said. "It is of myself. That knavedrugged me. I drank milk, and, save some dreams, remember no more tillI heard Hugh's voice calling. Now they tell me that I have stood at thealtar with de Noyon, and that his priest read the mass of marriage overus, and--look! Oh! I never noted it till now--there is a ring upon myhand," and she cast it on the floor. "Tell me, Father, according to theChurch's law is that man my--my husband?"

  Sir Andrew's eloquent dark eyes, that ever shadowed forth the thoughtswhich passed within him, grew very troubled.

  "I cannot tell you," he answered awkwardly after thinking a while. "Thispriest, Nicholas, though I hold him a foul villain, is doubtless stilla priest, clothed with all the authority of our Lord Himself, since theunworthiness of the minister does not invalidate the sacrament. Wereit otherwise, indeed, few would be well baptized or wed or shriven.Moreover, although I suspect that himself he mixed the draught, yet hemay not have known that you were drugged, and you stood silent, and, itwould appear, consenting. The ceremony, alas! was completed; I myselfheard him give the benediction. Your father assisted thereat and gaveyou to the groom in the presence of a congregation. The drugging is amatter of surmise and evidence which may not be forthcoming, since youare the only witness, and where is the proof? I fear me, daughter, thataccording to the Church's law you are de Noyon's lawful wife----"

  "The Church's law," she broke in; "how about God's law? There lies theonly man to whom I owe a bond, and I'll die a hundred deaths before anyother shall even touch my hand. Ay, if need be, I'll kill myself andreason out the case with St. Peter in the Gates."

  "Hush! hush! speak not so madly. The knot that the Church ties it canunloose. This matter must to his Holiness the Pope; it shall be mybusiness to lay it before him; yea, letters shall go to Avignon by thefirst safe hand. Moreover, it well may happen that God Himself will freeyou, by the sword of His servant Death. This lord of yours, if indeed hebe your lord, is a foul traitor. The King of England seeks his life, andthere is another who will seek it also ere very long," and he glancedat the senseless form of Hugh. "Fret not yourself overmuch, daughter.Be grateful rather that matters are no worse, and that you remain as youalways were. Another hour and you might have been snatched away beyondour finding. What is not ended can still be mended. Now go, seek therest you need, for I would not have two sick folk on my hands. Oh, seekit with a thankful heart, and forget not to pray for the soul of yourerring father, for, after all he loved you and strove for your welfareaccording to his lights."

  "It may be so," answered Eve, "and I'll pray for him, as is my duty.I'll pray also that I may never find such another friend as my fathershowed himself to me."