按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
seemed； to Eustace's superstitious eye； like one of those fair young St。 Michaels trampling on the fiend； which he had seen abroad in old German pictures。 He shuddered； pulled a packet from his bosom； and threw it from him； murmuring； 〃I have not given it。〃
〃Swear to me that these are all the papers which you have in cipher or out of cipher。 Swear on your soul； or you die！〃
Eustace swore。
〃Tell me； who are your accomplices？〃
〃Never！〃 said Eustace。 〃Cruel！ have you not degraded me enough already？〃 and the wretched young man burst into tears； and hid his bleeding face in his hands。
One hint of honor made Amyas as gentle as a lamb。 He lifted Eustace up； and bade him run for his life。
〃I am to owe my life； then； to you？〃
〃Not in the least； only to your being a Leigh。 Go； or it will be worse for you！〃 And Eustace went； while Amyas； catching up the precious packet； hurried to Frank。 He had fainted already； and his brother had to carry him as far as the park before he could find any of the other watchers。 The blind； as far as they were concerned； was complete。 They had heard and seen nothing。 Whosoever had brought the packet had landed they knew not where； and so all returned to the court； carrying Frank； who recovered gradually； having rather bruises than wounds； for his foe had struck wildly； and with a trembling hand。
Half…an…hour after； Amyas； Mr。 Cary； and his son Will were in deep consultation over the following epistle； the only paper in the packet which was not in cipher：
〃'DEAR BROTHER N。 S。 in Chto。 et Ecclesia。
〃This is to inform you and the friends of the cause； that S。 Josephus has landed in Smerwick； with eight hundred valiant Crusaders； burning with holy zeal to imitate last year's martyrs of Carrigfolium； and to expiate their offences （which I fear may have been many） by the propagation of our most holy faith。 I have purified the fort （which they are strenuously rebuilding） with prayer and holy water； from the stain of heretical footsteps； and consecrated it afresh to the service of Heaven； as the first…fruits of the isle of saints； and having displayed the consecrated banner to the adoration of the faithful； have returned to Earl Desmond； that I may establish his faith； weak as yet； by reason of the allurements of this world： though since； by the valor of his brother James； he that hindered was taken out of the way （I mean Davils the heretic； sacrifice well…pleasing in the eyes of Heaven！）； the young man has lent a more obedient ear to my counsels。 If you can do anything； do it quickly； for a great door and effectual is opened； and there are many adversaries。 But be swift； for so do the poor lambs of the Church tremble at the fury of the heretics； that a hundred will flee before one Englishman。 And； indeed； were it not for that divine charity toward the Church （which covers the multitude of sins） with which they are resplendent； neither they nor their country would be； by the carnal judgment； counted worthy of so great labor in their behalf。 For they themselves are given much to lying； theft； and drunkenness； vain babbling； and profane dancing and singing； and are still； as S。 Gildas reports of them； 'more careful to shroud their villainous faces in bushy hair； than decently to cover their bodies； while their land （by reason of the tyranny of their chieftains； and the continual wars and plunderings among their tribes； which leave them weak and divided； an easy prey to the myrmidons of the excommunicate and usurping Englishwoman） lies utterly waste with fire； and defaced with corpses of the starved and slain。 But what are these things； while the holy virtue of Catholic obedience still flourishes in their hearts？ The Church cares not for the conservation of body and goods； but of immortal souls。
〃If any devout lady shall so will； you may obtain from her liberality a shirt for this worthless tabernacle； and also a pair of hose； for I am unsavory to myself and to others； and of such luxuries none here has superfluity； for all live in holy poverty； except the fleas； who have that consolation in this world for which this unhappy nation； and those who labor among them； must wait till the world to come。*
〃Your loving brother；
〃N。 S。〃
* See note at end of chapter。
〃Sir Richard must know of this before daybreak；〃 cried old Cary。 〃Eight hundred men landed！ We must call out the Posse Comitatus； and sail with them bodily。 I will go myself； old as I am。 Spaniards in Ireland？ not a dog of them must go home again。〃
〃Not a dog of them；〃 answered Will； 〃but where is Mr。 Winter and his squadron？〃
〃Safe in Milford Haven； a messenger must be sent to him too。〃
〃I'll go；〃 said Amyas： 〃but Mr。 Cary is right。 Sir Richard must know all first。〃
〃And we must have those Jesuits。〃
〃What？ Mr。 Evans and Mr。 Morgans？ God help usthey are at my uncle's！ Consider the honor of our family！〃
〃Judge for yourself； my dear boy；〃 said old Mr。 Cary； gently： 〃would it not be rank treason to let these foxes escape； while we have this damning proof against them？〃
〃I will go myself； then。〃
〃Why not？ You may keep all straight； and Will shall go with you。 Call a groom； Will； and get your horse saddled； and my Yorkshire gray； he will make better play with this big fellow on his back； than the little pony astride of which Mr。 Leigh came walking in （as I hear） this morning。 As for Frank； the ladies will see to him well enough； and glad enough； too； to have so fine a bird in their cage for a week or two。〃
〃And my mother？〃
〃We'll send to her to…morrow by daybreak。 Come； a stirrup cup to start with； hot and hot。 Now； boots； cloaks； swords； a deep pull and a warm one； and away！〃
And the jolly old man bustled them out of the house and into their saddles； under the broad bright winter's moon。
〃You must make your pace； lads； or the moon will be down before you are over the moors。〃 And so away they went。
Neither of them spoke for many a mile。 Amyas； because his mind was fixed firmly on the one object of saving the honor of his house； and Will； because he was hesitating between Ireland and the wars； and Rose Salterne and love…making。 At last he spoke suddenly。
〃I'll go； Amyas。〃
〃Whither？〃
〃To Ireland with you； old man。 I have dragged my anchor at last。〃
〃What anchor； my lad of parables？〃
〃See； here am I； a tall and gallant ship。〃
〃Modest even if not true。〃
〃Inclination； like an anchor； holds me tight。〃
〃To the mud。〃
〃Nay； to a bed of rosesnot without their thorns。〃
〃Hillo！ I have seen oysters grow on fruit…trees before now； but never an anchor in a rose…garden。〃
〃Silence； or my allegory will go to noggin…staves。〃
〃Against the rocks of my flinty discernment。〃
〃Poohwell。 Up comes duty like a jolly breeze； blowing dead from the northeast； and as bitter and cross as a northeaster too； and tugs me away toward Ireland。 I hold on by the rosebedany ground in a stormtill every strand is parted； and off I go； westward ho！ to get my throat cut in a bog…hole with Amyas Leigh。〃
〃Earnest； Will？〃
〃As I am a sinful man。〃
〃Well done； young hawk of the White Cliff！〃
〃I had rather have called it Gallantry Bower still； though；〃 sai