ch latter may be long in winning, for the knave de Noyon
has been whispering in his ear. Hugh, this is my counsel: Get you to the
King again and crave his leave to follow de Noyon, for if once you twain
can come face to face I know well how the fray will end. Then, when
he is dead, return to one who waits for you through this world and the
next.

"Hugh, I am proud of your great deeds. No longer can they mock you as
'the merchant's son,' Sir Hugh. God be with you, as are my prayers and
love.

"Eve Clavering."

"I forgot to tell you that Sir Andrew is disturbed in heart. He looks
into a crystal which he says he brought with him from the East, and
swears he sees strange sights there, pictures of woe such as have not
been since the beginning of the world. Of this woe he preaches to the
folk of Dunwich, warning them of judgment to come, and they listen
affrighted because they know him to be a holy man who has a gift from
God. Yet he says that you and I, Eve, need fear nothing. May it be so,
Hugh.--E."

Now when he had thought awhile and hidden up Eve's letter, Hugh turned
to his father and asked him what were these sermons that Sir Andrew
preached.

"I heard but one of them, son," answered Master de Cressi, "though there
have been three. By the Holy Mother! it frightened me so much that I
needed no more of that medicine. Nor, to tell truth, when I got home
again could I remember all he said, save that it was of some frightful
ill which comes upon the world from the East and will leave it
desolate."

"And what think folk of such talk, father?"

"Indeed, son, they know not what to think. Most say that he is mad;
others say that he is inspired of God. Yet others declare that he is a
wizard and that his familiar brings him tidings from Cathay, where once
he dwelt, or perchance, from hell itself. These went to the bishop, who
summoned Sir Andrew and was closeted with him for three hours. Afterward
he called in the complainers and bade them cease their scandal of
wizardry, since he was sure that what the holy Father said came from
above and not from below. He added that they would do well to mend their
lives and prepare to render their account, as for his part he should
also, since the air was thick with doom. Then he gave his benediction to
the old knight and turned away weeping, and since that hour none talk
of wizardry but all of judgment. Men in Dunwich who have quarrelled from
boyhood, forgive each other and sing ps