that ancient port may discover for themselves。
When Master de Cressi and his people were gone； having first searched
the great manor…house and found none in it save a few serving…men and
women； whom he swore to put to death if they disobeyed him； Grey Dick
raised the drawbridge。 Then； all being made safe； he set a watch upon
the walls and saw that there was wood in the iron cradle on the
topmost tower 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 those walls； and then those that came proved to be friendly folk
from Dunwich bearing the ill news that the Frenchmen were clean away。
About midnight the door of the chamber in which Sir Andrew knelt by a
bed whereon lay Hugh de Cressi opened and the tall Eve entered；
bearing a taper in her hand。 For now her mind had returned to her and
she knew all。
〃Is he dead； Father？〃 she asked in a small； strange voice； then； still
as 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
I gained in Eastern lands； has stayed the flow of his life's blood；
and I say that he will live。〃
Then he showed her how her father's sword had glanced from the short
hood of chain…mail which he had given Hugh； stunning him； but leaving
the skull unbroken。 Biting into the neck below； it had severed the
outer vein only。 This he had tied with a thread of silk and burned
with a hot iron； leaving a scar that Hugh bore to his death； but
staunching the flow of blood。
〃How know you that he will live？〃 asked Eve again； 〃seeing that he
lies like one that is sped。〃
〃I know it； daughter。 Question me no more。 As for his stillness； it is
that 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
will live。〃
Now Eve uttered a great sigh。 Her breast heaved and colour returned to
her lips。 She knelt down and gave thanks as the old priest…knight had
bidden her。 Then she rose； took his hand and kissed it。
〃Yet one more question； Father；〃 she said。 〃It is of myself。 That
knave drugged me。 I drank milk； and； save some dreams； remember no
more till I heard Hugh's voice calling。 Now they tell me that I have
stood at the altar with de Noyon； and that his priest read the mass of
marriage over us； andlook！ Oh！ I never noted it till nowthere is a
ring upon my hand；〃 and she cast it on the floor。 〃Tell me； Father；
according to the Church's law is that man mymy husband？〃
Sir Andrew's eloquent dark eyes； that ever shadowed forth the thoughts
which passed within him； grew very troubled。
〃I cannot tell you；〃 he answered awkwardly after thinking a while。
〃This priest； Nicholas； though I hold him a foul villain； is doubtless
still a priest； clothed with all the authority of our Lord Himself；
since the unworthiness of the minister does not invalidate the
sacrament。 Were it otherwise； indeed； few would be well baptized or
wed or shriven。 Moreover； although I suspect that himself he mixed the
draught； yet he may not have known that you were drugged； and you
stood silent； and； it would appear； consenting。 The ceremony； alas！
was completed； I myself heard him give the benediction。 Your father
assisted thereat and gave you to the groom in the presence of a
congregation。 The drugging is a matter of surmise and evidence which
may not be forthcoming； since you are the only witness； and where is
the proof？ I fear me； daughter； that according 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 the
only man to whom I owe a bond； and I'll die a hundred deaths before
any other shall even touch my hand。 Ay； if need be； I'll kill myself
and reason out the case with St。 Peter in the Gates。〃
〃Hush！ hush！ speak not so madly。 The knot that the Church ties it can
unloose。 This matter must to his Holiness the Pope； it shall be my
business to lay it before him； yea； letters shall go to Avignon by the
first safe hand。 Moreover； it well may happen that God Himself will
free you； by the sword of His servant Death。 This lord of yours； if
indeed he be your lord； is a foul traitor。 The King of England seeks
his life； and there is another who will seek it also ere very long；〃
and he glanced at the senseless form of Hugh。 〃Fret not yourself
overmuch； daughter。 Be grateful rather that matters are no worse； and
that you remain as you always were。 Another hour and you might have
been snatched away beyond our finding。 What is not ended can still be
mended。 Now go； seek the rest you need； for I would not have two sick
folk on my hands。 Oh； seek it with a thankful heart； and forget not to
pray for the soul of your erring father； for； after all he loved you
and strove for your welfare according 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 father
showed himself to me。〃
Then she bent for a moment over Hugh； stretching out her hands above
him as though in blessing； and departed as silently as she had come。
Three days went by before Hugh found his mind again； and after that
for two weeks he was so feeble that he must lie quite still and
scarcely talk at all。 Sir Andrew； who nursed him continually with the
help of Grey Dick； who brought his master possets； bow on back and axe
at side but never opened his grim mouth； told his patient that Eve was
safe and sound； but that he must not see her until he grew strong
again。
So Hugh strove to grow strong； and； nature helping him； not in vain。
At length there came a day when he might rise from his bed； and sit on
a bench in the pleasant spring sunshine by the open window。 Walk he
could not； however； not only on account of his weakness； but because
of another hurt； now discovered for the first time； which in the end
gave him more trouble than did the dreadful and dangerous blow of
Clavering's sword。 It seemed that when he had fallen suddenly beneath
that murderous stroke all his muscles relaxed as though he were dead；
and his left ankle bent up under him； wrenching its sinews in such a
fashion that for the rest of his life he walked a little lame。
Especially was this so in the spring season； though whether because he
had received his hurt at that time or owing to the quality of the air
none could ever tell him。
Yet on that happy day he thought little of these harms； who felt the
life…blood running once more strongly through his veins and who
awaited Eve's long…promised advent。 At length she came； stately； kind
and beautiful； for now her grief and terror had passed by； leaving her
as she was before her woes fell upon her。 She came； and in Sir
Andrew's presence； for he would not leave them； the tale was told。
Hugh learned for the first time all the truth of her imprisonment and
of her shameful drugging。 He learned of the burying of Sir John
Clavering and of her naming as sole heiress to his great estates。 To
these； however； Acour had not been ashamed to submit some shadowy
claim； made 〃in right of his lawful wife； Dame Eve Acour； Countess de
Noyon；〃 which claim had been sent by him from France addressed to 〃all
whom it might concern。〃 He learned of the King's wrath at the escape
of this same Acour； and of his Grace's seizure of that false knight's
lands in Suffolk； which； however； proved to be so heavily mortgaged
that no one would grow rich upon them。
Lastly he learned that King Edward； in a letter written by one of his
secretaries to Sir Andrew Arnold and received only that morning； said
that he held him； Hugh de Cressi； not to blame for Acour's escape。 It
commanded also that if he recovered from his wound； for the giving of
which Sir John Clavering should have paid sharply if he had lived； he
and the archer； his servant； should join him either in England or in
France； whither he purposed shortly to proceed with all his host。 But
the Mayor and men of Dunwich he did not hold free of blame。
The letter added； moreover； that the King was advised that Edmund
Acour on reaching Normandy had openly thrown off his allegiance to the
crown of England and there was engaged in raising forces to make war
upon him。 Further； that this Acour alleged himself to be the lawfully
married husband of Eve Clavering； the heiress of Sir John Clavering； a
point upon which his Grace demanded information； since if this were
true he purposed to escheat the Clavering lands。 With this brief and
stern announcement the letter ended。
〃By God's mercy； Eve； tell me； are you this fellow's wife？〃 exclaimed
Hugh。
〃Not so；〃 she answered。 〃Can a woman who is Dunwich born be wed
without consent？ And can a woman whose will is foully drugged out of
her give consent to that which she hates？ Why； if so there is no
justice in the world。〃
〃'Tis a rare jewel in these evil days； daughter；〃 said Sir Andrew with
a sigh。 〃Still fret not yourself son Hugh。 A full statement of the
case； drawn by skilled clerks and testified to by many witnesses； has
gone forward already to his Holiness the Pope； of which statement true