"By St. Mark,--he's the right saint to swear by in Venice"--he exclaimed
when he had finished, "this is a strange affair. You have travelled
hither to offer single combat to Edmund Acour, Count of Noyon and
Seigneur of Cattrina. The Doge is urged by his friendship to the throne
of England to bring about this combat to the death, seeing that de Noyon
has broken his oath of homage, has plotted to overthrow King Edward, has
fought against him and that therefore you are his Grace's champion as
well as the avenger of certain private wrongs which you will explain.
That's the letter. Well, I think the Doge will listen to it, because he
scarce dare do otherwise who wishes no quarrel with our country just now
when it is victorious. Also this de Noyon, whom we call Cattrina here,
has allied himself with certain great men of the Republic, with whom he
is connected by blood, who are secret enemies to the Doge. Through them
he strives to stir up trouble between Venice and England, and to raise
mercenaries to serve the flag of France, as did the Genoese, to their
sorrow. Therefore I think that in the Doge you will find a friend. I
think also that the matter, being brought forward with such authority,
the Seigneur de Cattrina will scarcely care to refuse your challenge if
you can show that you have good cause for quarrel against him, since
in such affairs the Venetians are punctilious.
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