od has willed to bring together? Why would you sell
your child to a gilded knave whom she hates? Nay, stop me not. I'd call
him that and more to his face and none have ever known me lie. Why did
you suffer this Frenchman or your dead son, or both of them, to try
to burn out Hugh de Cressi and Red Eve as though they were rats in
rubbish?"

"Would you know, Father? Then I'll tell you. Because I wish to see
my daughter set high among lords and princes and not the wife of a
merchant's lad, who by law may wear cloth only and rabbit fur. Because,
also, I hate him and all his kin, and if this is true of yesterday, how
much more true is it now that he has killed my son, and by the arrows of
that wolf-man who dogs his heels, slain my guests and my grieve. Think
not I'll rest till I have vengeance of him and all his cursed House.
I'll appeal to the King, and if he will not give me justice I'll take it
for myself. Ay, though you are old, I tell you you shall live to see the
de Cressi vault crowded with the de Cressi dead."

Sir Andrew hid his eyes for a moment with his hand, then let it fall and
spoke in a changed voice.

"It comes upon me that you speak truth, Sir John, for since I met a
certain great Master in the East, at times I have a gift of foresight.
I think that much sorrow draws near this land; ay, and others. I think
that many vaults and many churchyards, too, will ere long be filled with
dead; also that the tomb of the Claverings at Blythburgh will soon be
opened. Mayhap the end of this world draws near to all men, as surely
it draws near to you and me. I know not--yet truth was in your lips just
now, and in mine as well, I think. Oh, man, man!" he went on after a
pause, "appeal not unto the world's Caesar lest Caesar render different
judgment to that which you desire. Get you home, and on your knees
appeal unto God to forgive you your proud, vengeance-seeking heart.
Sickness draws near to you; death draws near to you, and after death,
hell--or heaven. I have finished."

As he heard these words Sir John's swarthy face grew pale and for a
little while his rage died down. Then it flared up again.

"Don't dream to frighten me with your spells, old wizard," he said.
"I'm a hale man yet, though I do lose my breath at times when my mind is
vexed with wrongs, and I'll square my own account with God without your
help or counsel. So you'll not give me my daughter?"

"Nay, here she bides in sanctuary for so long as it shal