But Acour did not laugh. He ground his teeth and said into the ear of
Nicholas:
"Register this vow for me, priest, that in payment for that jest I'll
sack and burn Dunwich when our army comes, and give its men and children
to the sword and its women to the soldiers."
"It shall be done, lord," answered the chaplain, "and should your heart
soften at the appointed time I'll put you in memory of this solemn
oath."
At the great house of the Mayor of Dunwich Sir Edmund drew rein and
demanded to see him. Presently this Mayor, a timid, uncertain-looking
man, came in his robes of office and asked anxiously what might be the
cause of this message and why an armed band halted at his gate.
"For no ill purpose, sir," answered Acour, "though little of justice
have I found at your hands, who, therefore, must seek it at the Court of
my liege lord, King Edward. All I ask of you is that you will cause this
letter to be delivered safely to the lady Eve Clavering, who lies in
sanctuary at the Preceptory of St. Mary and St. John. It is one of
farewell, since it seems that this lady who, by her own will and her
father's, was my affianced, wishes to break troth, and I am not a man
who needs an unwilling bride. I'd deliver it myself only that old knave,
half priest and half knight, but neither good----"
"You'd best speak no ill of Sir Andrew Arnold here," said a voice in the
crowd.
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