o son of
mine. Yet, Red Eve, you and he and your love-makings have brought much
trouble on me and my House. Look now what it means. A feud to the death
between our families of which no man can foresee the end. Moreover, how
can you marry, seeing that a brother's blood runs between you?"

"It is on John's head," she answered sadly, "not on Hugh's hand. I
warned him, and Hugh spared him once. What more could we do?"

"I know not, Eve; I only know what you have done, you and Hugh and Grey
Dick. Four dead and two wounded, that's the bill I must discharge as
best I may. Doubtless too soon there will be more to follow, whether
they be Claverings or de Cressis. Well, we must take things as God sends
them, and leave Him to balance the account.

"But there is no time to lose if Hugh's neck is to escape a halter.
Speak you, Father Andrew, who are wise and old, and have this matter in
hand. Oh! Hugh, Hugh, you were born a fighter, not a merchant like your
brethren," and he pointed to three young men who all this while had
stood silently behind him looking upon their youngest brother with grave
disapproval. "Yes, the old Norman blood comes out in you, and the Norman
mail suits you well," he added with a flash of pride, "and so there's an
end--or a beginning. Now, Sir Andrew, speak."

"Master de Cressi," said the old priest, "your son Hugh rides to London
on an errand of mine which I think will save his neck from that halter
whereof you spoke but now. Are those four mounted men that you promised
me ready to companion him?"

"They will be within an hour, Father, but not before, since six good
horses cannot be laid hands on in the dead of night, being stabled
without the gates. But what is this message of yours, and to whom does
Hugh go?"

"To his Grace Edward the King, none less, Geoffrey de Cressi, with that
which shall earn pardon for him and Dick the Archer, or so I believe.
As for what it is I may not tell you or any man. It has to do with great
matters of State that are for the King's ear alone; and I charge you,
every one, on your honour and your safety, to make no mention of this
mission without these walls. Do you swear, Geoffrey de Cressi, and you,
his sons?"

Then one by one they swore to be secret as the grave; and Eve swore
also, though of her he had sought no promise. When this was finished Sir
Andrew asked if any of his brothers accompanied Hugh, saying that if so
they must arm.

"No," answered Master de Cress