the virgin of the sun-第19部分

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at　the　door。　I　who　was　watching；　opened；　thinking　it　was　you　returned；
and　there　stood　that　lord。　He　spoke　to　me；　saying：

〃'Moor…man；　I　know　that　your　master　is　from　home；　but　that　the　lady　is
here。　I　would　speak　with　her。'

〃Now　I　would　have　turned　him　away；　but　at　that　moment　the　lady
herself；　who　it　seemed　was　watching；　came　down　the　stairs；　looking
very　white；　and　said：

〃'Kari；　let　the　lord　come　in。　I　have　matters　of　your　master's　business
about　which　I　must　talk　with　him。'　So；　Master；　knowing　that　you　had
lent　money　to　this　lord；　I　obeyed；　though　I　liked　it　not；　and　having
fetched　the　sword　which　I　thought　perchance　might　be　needed；　I
waited。〃

This　was　the　substance　of　what　he　said；　though　his　talk　was　more
broken　since　he　never　learned　to　speak　English　well　and　helped　it　out
with　words　of　his　own　tongue；　of　which；　as　I　have　told；　he　had　taught
me　something。

〃I　do　not　understand；〃　I　exclaimed；　when　he　had　finished。　〃Doubtless
it　is　little　or　nothing。　Yet　give　me　the　sword；　for　who　knows？　and
come　with　me。〃

Kari　obeyed；　and　as　I　went　up　the　stairs　I　buckled　Wave…Flame　about
me。　Also　Kari　brought　two　candles　of　Italian　wax　lighted　upon　their
stands。　Coming　to　the　door　of　the　solar　I　tried　to　open　it；　but　it　was
bolted。

〃God's　truth！〃　I　said；　〃this　is　strange；〃　and　hammered　on　the　panel
with　my　fist。

Presently　it　opened；　but　before　entering　it；　for　I　feared　some　trick；
I　stood　without　and　looked　in。　The　room　was　lit　by　a　hanging　lamp　and
a　fire　burned　brightly　on　the　hearth；　for　the　night　was　cold。　In　an
oak　chair　by　the　fire　and　staring　into　it　sat　Blanche　still　as　any
statue。　She　glanced　round　and　saw　me　in　the　light　of　the　candles　that
Kari　held；　and　again　stared　into　the　fire。　Half…way　between　her　and
the　door　stood　Deleroy；　dressed　as　ever　in　fine　clothes；　though　I
noted　that　his　cape　was　off　and　hung　over　a　stool　near　the　fire　as
though　to　dry。　I　noted　also　that　he　wore　a　sword　and　a　dagger。　I
entered　the　room；　followed　by　Kari；　shut　the　door　behind　me　and　shot
the　bolt。　Then　I　spoke；　asking：

〃Why　are　you　here　with　my　wife；　Lord　Deleroy？〃

〃It　is　strange；　Master　merchant；〃　he　answered；　〃but　I　was　about　to　put
much　the　same　question　to　you：　namely；　why　is　/my/　wife　in　your
house？〃

Now；　while　I　reeled　beneath　these　words；　without　turning　her　head；
Blanche　by　the　fire　said：

〃He　lies；　Hubert。　I　am　not　his　wife。〃

〃Why　are　you　here；　my　Lord　Deleroy？〃　I　repeated。

〃Well；　if　you　would　know；　Master　merchant；　I　bring　a　paper　for　you；　or
rather　a　copy　of　it；　for　the　writ　itself　will　be　served　on　you
to…morrow　by　the　King's　officers。　It　commits　you　to　the　Tower　under
the　royal　seal　for　trading　with　the　King's　enemies；　a　treason　that　can
be　proved　against　you；　of　which　as　you　know；　or　will　shortly　learn；
the　punishment　is　death；〃　and　as　he　spoke　he　threw　a　writing　down　upon
a　side　table。

〃I　see　the　plot；〃　I　answered　coldly。　〃The　King's　unworthy　favourite；
forger　and　thief；　uses　the　King's　authority　to　try　to　bring　the　King's
honest　subject　to　bonds　and　death　by　a　false　accusation。　It　is　a
common　trick　in　these　days。　But　let　that　be。　For　the　third　time　I　ask
youwhy　are　you　here　with　my　new…wed　wife　and　at　this　hour　of　the
night？〃

〃So　courteous　a　question　demands　a　courteous　answer；　Master　merchant；
but　to　give　it　I　must　trouble　you　to　listen　to　a　tale。〃

〃Then　let　it　be　like　my　patience；　brief；〃　I　replied。

〃It　shall；〃　he　said　with　a　mocking　bow。

Then　very　clearly　and　quietly　he　set　out　a　dreadful　story；　giving
dates　and　circumstances。　Let　that　story　be。　The　substance　of　it　was
that　he　had　married　Blanche　soon　after　she　reached　womanhood　and　that
she　had　borne　him　a　child　which　died。

〃Blanche；〃　I　said　when　he　had　done；　〃you　have　heard。　Is　this　true？〃

〃Much　of　it　is　true；〃　she　answered　in　that　strange；　cold　voice；　still
staring　at　the　fire。　〃Only　the　marriage　was　a　false　one　by　which　I　was
deceived。　He　who　celebrated　it　was　a　companion　of　the　Lord　Deleroy
tricked　out　as　a　priest。〃

〃Do　not　let　us　wrangle　of　this　matter；〃　said　Deleroy。　〃A　man　who　mixes
with　the　world　like　yourself；　Master　merchant；　will　know　that　women　in
a　trap　rarely　lack　excuses。　Still　if　it　be　admitted　that　this　marriage
did　not　fulfil　all　formalities；　then　so　much　the　better　for　Blanche
and　myself。　If　she　be　your　lawful　wife　and　not　mine；　you；　I　learn；
have　signed　a　writing　in　her　favour　under　which　she　will　inherit　your
great　wealth。　That　indenture　I　think　you　can　find　no　opportunity　to
dispute；　and　if　you　do　I　have　a　promise　that　the　property　of　a　certain
traitor　shall　pass　to　me；　the　revealer　of　his　treachery。　Let　it
console　you　in　your　last　moments；　Master　merchant；　to　remember　that
the　lady　whom　you　have　honoured　with　your　fancy　will　pass　her　days　in
wealth　and　comfort　in　the　company　of　him　whom　she　has　honoured　with
her　love。〃

〃Draw！〃　I　said　briefly　as　I　unsheathed　my　sword。

〃Why　should　I　fight　with　a　base；　trading　usurer？〃　he　asked；　still
mocking　me；　though　I　thought　that　there　was　doubt　in　his　voice。

〃Answer　your　own　question；　thief。　Fight　if　you　will；　or　die　without
fighting　if　you　will　not。　For　know　that　until　I　am　dead　you　do　not
leave　this　room　living。〃

〃Until　I　dead　too；　O　Lord；〃　broke　in　Kari　in　his　gentle　voice；　bowing
in　his　courteous　foreign　fashion。

As　he　did　so　with　a　sudden　motion　Kari　shook　the　cloak　back　from　his
body　and　for　the　first　time　I　saw　that　thrust　through　his　leathern
belt　was　a　long　weapon；　half　sword　and　half　dagger；　also　that　its
sharpened　steel　was　bare。

〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　Deleroy；　〃now　I　understand　that　I　am　trapped　and　that
when　you　told　me；　Blanche；　that　this　man　would　not　return　to…night　and
that　therefore　we　were　safe　together；　you　lied。　Well；　my　Lady　Blanche；
you　shall　pay　for　this　trick　later。〃

Whilst　he　spoke　thus；　slowly；　as　though　to　gain　time；　he　was　looking
about　him；　and　as　the　last　word　left　his　lips；　knowing　that　the　door
was　locked；　he　dashed　for　the　window；　hoping；　I　suppose；　to　leap
through　the　casement；　or　if　that　failed；　to　shout　for　help。　But　Kari；
who　had　set　the　candles　he　bore　on　a　side　table；　that　where　the
writing　lay；　read　his　mind。　With　a　movement　more　swift　than　that　of　a
polecat　leaping　on　its　prey；　the　swiftest　indeed　that　ever　I　saw；　he
sprang　between　him　and　the　casement；　so　that　Deleroy　scarce　escaped
pinning　himself　upon　the　steel　that　he　held　in　his　long；　outstretched
arm。　Indeed；　I　think　it　pricked　his　throat；　for　he　checked　himself
with　an　oath　and　drew　his　sword；　a　double…edged　weapon　with　a　sharp
point；　as　long　as　mine　perhaps；　but　not　so　heavy。

〃I　see　that　I　must　finish　the　pair　of　you。　Perchance；　Blanche；　you
will　protect　my　back　as　a　loving　wife　should　do；　until　this　lout　is
done　with；〃　he　said；　swaggering　to　the　last。

〃Kari；〃　I　commanded；　〃hold　the　candles　aloft　that　the　light　may　be
good；　and　leave　this　man　to　me。〃

Kari　bowed　and　took　the　copper　taper　stands；　one　in　either　hand；　and
held　them　aloft。　But　first　he　placed　his　long　dagger；　not　back　in　his
belt；　but　between　his　teeth　with　the　handle　towards　his　right　hand。
Even　then　in　some　strange　fashion　I　noted　how　terrible　looked　this
grim　dark　man　holding　the　candles　high　with　the　knife　gripped　between
his　white　teeth。

Deleroy　and　I　faced　each　other　in　the　open　space　between　the　fire　and
the　door。　Blanche　turned　round　upon　her　stool　and　watched；　uttering　no
sound。　But　I　laughed　aloud　for　of　the　end　I　had　no　doubt。　Had　there
been　ten　Deleroys　I　would　have　slain　them　all。　Still　presently　I　found
there　was　cause　to　doubt；　for　when；　parrying　his　first　thrust；　I　drove
at　him　with　all　my　strength；　instead　of　piercing　him　through　and
through　the　ancient　sword；　Wave…Flame；　bent　in　my　hand　like　a　bow　as
it　is　strung；　telling　me　that　beneath　his　Joseph's　coat　of　silk
Deleroy　wore　a　shirt　of　mail。

Then　I　cried：　〃/A…hoi！/〃　as　Thorgrimmer　my　ancestor　may　have　done　when
he　wielded　this　same　sword；　and　while　Deleroy　still　staggered　beneath
my　thrust　I　grasped　Wave…Flame　with　both　hands；　wheeled　it　aloft；　and
smote。　He　lifted　his　arm　round　which　he　had　wound　his　cloak；　to
protect　his　head；　but　the　sword　shore　through　cloak　and　arm；　so　that
his　hand　with　the　glittering　rings　upon　it　fell　to　the　floor。

Again　I　smote　for；　as　both　of　us　knew；　this　business　was　to　the　death；
and　Deleroy　fell　down　dead；　smitten　through　the　brain。

Kari　smiled　gently；　and　lifting　the　cloak；　shook　it　out　and　threw　it
over　what　had　been　Deleroy。　Then　he　took　my　sword　and　while　I　watched
him　idly；　cleansed　it　with　rushes　from　the　floor。

Next　I　heard　a　sound　from　the　neighbourhood　of　the　fire；　and
bethinking　me　of　Blanche　turned　to　speak　to　her；　though　what　I　was
going　to　say　God　knows　for　I　do　not。

A　terrible　sight　met　my　eyes　and　burned　itself　into　my　very　soul　so
that　it　could　never　be　forgot。　Blanche　was　leaning　back　in　the　oak
chair　over　which　flowed　her　long；　fair　locks；　and　the　front　of　her
robe　was　red。　I　remembered　how　she　had　spilt　the　wine　at　the　feast　and
thought　I　saw　its　stain；　till　presently；　still　staring；　I　noted　that
it　grew　and　knew　it　to　be　caused　by　another　wine；　that　of　her　blood。
Also　I　noted　that　from　the　midst　of　it　seen　in　the　lamplight；　just
beneath　the　snake…encircled　ruby　heart；　appeared　the　little　handle　of
a　dagger。

I　sprang　to　her；　but　she　lifted　her　hand　and　waved　me　back。

〃Touch　me　not；〃　she　whispered；　〃I　am　not　fit；　also　the　thrust　is
mortal。　If　you　draw　the　knife　I　shall　die　at　once；　and　first　I　would
speak。　I　would　have　you　know　that　I　love　you　and　hoped　to　be　a　good
wife　to　you。　What　I　said　was　true。　That　dead　man　tricked　me　with　a
false　marriage　when　I　was　scarcely　more　than　a　child；　and　afterwards
he　would　not　mend　it　with　an　honest。　Perchance　he　himself　was　wed；　or
he　had　other　reasons；　I　do　not　know。　My　father　guessed　much　but　not
all。　I　tried　to　warn　you　when　you　offered　yourself；　but　you　were　deaf
and　blind　and　would　not　see　or　listen。　Then　I　gave　way；　liking　you
well　and　thinking　that　I　should　find　rest；　as　indeed　I　do；　thinking
also　that　I　should　be　wealthy　and　able　to　shut　that　villain's　mouth
with　gold。　I　never　knew　he　was　coming　here　or　even　that　he　had　sailed
home　from　France；　but　he　broke　in　upon　me；　having　l