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figure that towered above him。
Sir Andrew threw back his hood； revealing his aged； hawk…like
countenance； his dark and flashing eyes and his snow…white hair and
beard。
〃If you would learn； man；〃 he said； in his great voice； 〃in the world
I was known as Sir Andrew Arnold； one of the priors of the Order of
the Templars； which is a name that you may have heard。 But now that I
have laid aside all worldly pomp and greatness； I am but Father
Andrew； of Dunwich； in England。〃
〃Yes； yes； I have heard the name； who has not？〃 said the lawyer
humbly； 〃also you are here as guardian to the lady Eve Clavering； are
you not； to lay a certain cause before his Holiness？ Oh！ do not start；
all these matters came to my knowledge who am concerned in every great
business in Avignon as the chief agent and procurator of the Papal
Court； though it is true that this tiding has reached me only within
the last few minutes and from the lips of your own people。 Holy
Father； I pray your pardon for breaking in upon you； which I did only
because the matter is very pressing。 Sir Hugh de Cressi here has a
cause to lay before the Pope with which you may be acquainted。 Well；
for two days I have striven to win him an audience； and now through my
sole influence； behold！ 'tis granted。 See here；〃 and he produced a
parchment that purported to be signed by the Pope's secretary and
countersigned by a cardinal； and read：
〃'If the English knight； Sir Hugh de Cressi； and his squire； the
captain Richard； will be in the chamber of audience at the palace at
seven of the clock this evening' （that is； within something less than
half an hour）； 'his Holiness will be pleased to receive them as a most
special boon； having learned that the said Sir Hugh is a knight much
in favour with his Grace of England； who appointed him his champion in
a combat that was lately to be fought at Venice。'〃
〃That's true enough； though I know not how the Pope heard of it；〃
interrupted Hugh。
〃Through me； Sir Knight； for I learn everything。 None have so much
power in Avignon as I； although it often pleases me to seem poor and
of no account。 But let that pass。 Either you must take this
opportunity or be content not to see his Holiness at all。 Orders have
been issued because of the increase of this pest in Avignon； that from
to…night forward none shall be admitted to the palace upon any pretext
whatsoever； no； not even a king。〃
〃Then I had best go；〃 said Hugh。
〃Ay；〃 answered Sir Andrew； 〃and return here with your tidings as soon
as may be。 Yet；〃 he added in a low voice to Grey Dick； 〃I love not the
look of this scurvy guide of yours。 Could not your master have found a
better attorney？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 answered Dick； 〃that is if one is left alive in Avignon。
Being in haste we took the first that came to hand； and it seems that
he will serve our turn。 At least； if he plays tricks； I promise it
will be the worse for him；〃 and he looked grimly at the rogue； who was
talking to David Day and appeared to hear nothing。
So they went； and with them David； who had witnessed the confession of
Father Nicholas。 Therefore they thought it best that he should
accompany them to testify to it if there were need。
〃Bid my lady keep a good heart and say that I will be with her again
ere long；〃 said Hugh as they descended the stairs in haste。
Following the guidance of Basil； they turned first this way and then
that； till soon in the gathering darkness they knew not where they
were。
〃What was the name of the street in which Sir Andrew had his lodging？〃
asked Hugh； halting。
〃Rue St。 Benezet；〃 answered Basil。 〃Forward； we have no time to lose。〃
〃Did you tell Sir Andrew where we dwelt； master？〃 said Dick presently；
〃for I did not。〃
〃By my faith； Dick； no； it slipped my mind。〃
〃Then it will be hard for him to find us if he has need； master； in
this rabbit warren of a town。 Still that can't be mended now。 I wish
we were clear of this business； for it seems to me that yon fellow is
not leading us toward the palace。 Almost am I minded〃 and he
looked at Basil； then checked himself。
Presently Dick wished it still more。 Taking yet another turn they
found themselves in an open square or garden that was surrounded by
many mean houses。 In this square great pest…fires burned； lighting it
luridly。 By the flare of them they saw that hundreds of people were
gathered there listening to a mad…eyed friar who was preaching to them
from the top of a wine…cart。 As they drew near to the crowd through
which Basil was leading them； Hugh heard the friar shouting：
〃Men of Avignon； this pest which kills us is the work not of God； but
of the Jew blasphemers and of the sorcerers who are in league with
them。 I tell you that two such sorcerers who pass as Englishmen are in
your city now and have been consorting with the Jews； plotting your
destruction。 One looks like a young knight； but the other has the face
of Death himself； and both of them wrought murders in a neighbouring
town to protect the Jews。 Until you kill the accursed Jews this plague
will never pass。 You will die； every one of you； with your wives and
children if you do not kill the Jews and their familiars。〃
Just then the man； rolling his wild eyes about； caught sight of Hugh
and Dick。
〃See！〃 he screamed。 〃There are the wizards who in Venice were seen in
the company of the Enemy of Mankind。 That good Christian； Basil； has
brought them face to face with you； as he promised me that he would。〃
As he heard these words Hugh drew his sword and leapt at Basil。 But
the rogue was watching。 With a yell of fear he threw himself among the
crowd and there vanished。
〃Out weapons； and back to back！〃 cried Hugh； 〃for we are snared。〃
So the three of them ranged themselves together facing outward。 In
front of them gleamed Grey Dick's axe； Hugh's sword and David's great
knife。 In a moment the furious mob was surging round them like the
sea； howling； 〃Down with the foreign wizards！ Kill the friends of the
Jews！〃 one solid wall of changing white faces。
A man struck at them with a halbert； but the blow fell short； for he
was afraid to come too near。 Grey Dick leapt forward； and in a moment
was back again； leaving that man dead； smitten through from skull to
chin。 For a while there was silence； since this sudden death gave them
pause； and in it Hugh cried out：
〃Are blameless men to be murdered thus？ Have we no friends in
Avignon？〃
〃Some；〃 answered a voice from the outer shadow； though who spoke they
could not see。
〃Save the protectors of the Jews！〃 cried the voice again。
Then came a rush and a counter…rush。 Fighting began around them in
which they took no share。 When it had passed over them like a gust of
wind； David Day was gone； killed or trodden down； as his companions
thought。
〃Now； master； we are alone；〃 said Grey Dick。 〃Set your shoulders
against mine and let us die a death that these dogs of Avignon will
remember。〃
〃Ay； ay！〃 answered Hugh。 〃But don't overreach； Dick； 'tis ever the
archer's fault。〃
The mob closed in on them； then rolled back like water from a rock；
leaving some behind。 Again they closed in and again rolled back。
〃Bring bows！〃