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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 learned that you
were away； and was about to leave when you returned。 He came for money
for which he believed that I had wed； and thinking to win me back from
one doomed by his lies to a traitor's death。 You know the rest； and
for me there was but one thing to do。 Be glad that you are no longer
burdened with me and go find happiness in the arms of a more fortunate
or a better woman。 Fly； and swiftly； for Deleroy had many friends and
the King himself loved him as a brotheras well he may。 Fly； I say；
and forgiveforgive！ Hubert； farewell！〃
Thus she spoke； ever more slowly and lower； till with the last word
her life left her lips。
Thus ended the story of my marriage with Blanche Aleys。
BOOK II
CHAPTER I
THE NEW WORLD
They were forever silent now； who； but a breath before； had been so
full of life and the stir of mortal passion； Deleroy dead beneath the
cloak upon the floor； Blanche dead in the oaken chair。 We who remained
alive were silent also。 I glanced at Kari's face； it was as that of a
stone statue on a tomb； only in it his large eyes shone； noting all
things and； as I imagined in my distraught fancy； filled with triumph
and foreknowledge。 Considering it in that strange calm of the spirit
which sometimes supervenes on great and terrible events that for a
while crush its mortality from the soul and set it free to marvel at
the temporal pettiness of all we consider immediate and mighty； I
wondered what was the aspect of my own。
At the moment； I； who on this day had passed the portals of so many
emotions： that of the lover's longing for his bride won at last； only
to be lost again； that of acute and necessary business； that of the
ancient joy of battle and vengeance wreaked upon an evil man； that of
the unshuttering of my own eyes to the flame of a hellish truth； that
of the self…murder and turning to cold clay before those same eyes of
her whom I had hoped to clasp in honest loveI； I say； felt as though
I； too； were dead。 Indeed all within was dead； only the shell of flesh
remained alive； and in my heart I echoed the words of my old uncle and
of a wiser than he who went before him〃Vanity of vanities！ All is
vanity！〃
It was Kari who spoke first； Kari as ever calm and even…voiced； saying
in his broken English of which but the substance is recorded：
〃Things have happened； good things I hold； though you； Master； may
think otherwise for a little while。 Yet in this rough land of savages
and small justice these things may bring trouble。 That lord brought a
writing；〃 and he nodded towards the document on the table； 〃and talked
of death for /you/； Masternot for himself。 And the lady； while she
still lived； she say'Fly； fly or die！' And now？〃 and he glanced at
the two bodies。
I looked at him vacantly for the numbness following the first shock
was passing away and all the eating agony of my loss began to fix its
fangs upon my heart。
〃Whither can I fly？〃 I asked。 〃And why should I fly？ I am an innocent
man and for the rest； the sooner I am dead the better。〃
〃My Master must fly；〃 answered Kari in swift； broken words； 〃because
he still live and is free。 Also sorrow behind； joy before。 Kari； who
hate women and read heart； Kari who drink this same bitter water long
ago； guess these things coming and think and think。 No need that
Master trouble； Kari settle all and tell Master that if he do what he
say； everything come right。〃
〃What am I to do？〃 I asked with a groan。
〃Ship /Blanche/ on great river ready for sea。 Master and Kari sail in
her before daybreak。 Here leave everything： much land； much wealth
what matter？ Life more than these things which can get again。 Come。
No； one minute； wait。〃
Then he went to the body of Deleroy and with wonderful swiftness took
off it the chain coat he wore beneath his tunic； which he put on his
own body。 Also he took his sword and buckled it about him； while the
parchment writ he threw upon the fire。 Then he extinguished the
hanging lamp and gave me one of the candles； taking the other himself。
At the door I held up my candle and by the light of it looked my last
upon the ashen face of Blanche； which face I knew must go with me
through all my life's days。
Kari locked the stout oaken door of the solar from the outside and
took me into my chamber； where was the armour of the knight whom I had
killed on Hastings Hill； which armour I had caused to be altered to
fit myself。 Swiftly he buckled it on to me； throwing over all a long；
dark robe such as merchants wear。 From the cupboard； too； he brought
the big black bow and a sheath of arrows； also a purseful of gold
pieces from where they were kept； and with them the leathern bag which
he had worn when I found him on the quay。
We went into the room where the feast had been held and there drank
some wine； though eat I could not。 The cup from which I drank was； as
it chanced； the same in which I had pledged Blanche at the bride
feast。 Now I pledged her spirit whereon I prayed God's mercy。
We left the house and in the stable saddled two horses； strong； quiet
beasts。 Then by way of the back yard we rode out into the night； none
seeing us； for by now all were asleep； and in that weather the streets
were empty； even of such as walked them in darkness。
We reached the quay I know not how long afterwards whose mind was full
of thoughts that blotted out all else。 How strange had been my life
that was one of them。 Within a few years I had risen to great wealth；
and won the woman I desired。 And now where was the wealth and where
was the woman； and what was I？ One flying his native land by night
with blood upon his hands； the blood of a King's favourite that； if he
were taken； would bring him to the noose。 Oh！ how great was the
contrast between the morn and the midnight of that day for me！ 〃Vanity
of vanities。 All is vanity！〃
I think that my mind must have wandered； for when my soul was
swallowed in this deepest pit of hell； it seemed to me that he whom I
had worshipped as a heavenly patron； St。 Hubert； appeared striding by
my horse with a shining countenance and said to me：
〃Have good courage； Godson； and remember your mother's wordsa
wanderer shall you be； but where'er you go the good bow and the good
sword shall keep you safe and I wander with you。 Nor does all love die
with one woman's passing breath。〃
This phantasy； as it were； lanced the abscess of my pain and for a
while I was easier。 Also something of hope came back to me。 I no
longer desired to die but rather to live and in life； not in the tomb；
to find forgetfulness。
We reached the quay and placed the horses in a shed that served as
stables there； ridding them of their bits and saddles that they might
eat of the hay in the racks。 The thought to do this came to me； which
showed that my mind was working again since still I could attend to
the wants of other creatures。 Then we went to the quayside where was
made fast that boat in which I had come ashore some hours gone。 There
was a moon which now and again showed between the drifting clouds； and
by the light of it I saw that the /Blanche/ lay safe at her anchors
not a bowshot away。 The gale had fallen much with the rising of the
moon； as it often does； and so it came about that although the boat
was over…large for two men to handle rightly； Kari and I； by watching
our chance； were able to row it to the ship； on to which we climbed by
the ladder。
Here we found a sailor on watch who was amazed to see us； and with his
help； made the boat fast by the tow rope to the stern of the ship。
This done I caused the captain to be awakened and told him briefly
that as the gale had abated and tide and wind served； I desired to
sail at once。 He stared at me； thinking me mad； whom he knew to have
been married but that day。
Surely； he said； I should wait for the light and to gather up those of
the ship's company who were still ashore。 I answered that I would wait
for nothing； and w