Think you that it is of a kind to
give brave men a stomach in a fight to the end?"
"I know not, Geoffrey, but surely 'tis better to have these matters
settled, for, as you often say, death is always near us."
"Ay, madam," broke in Grey Dick, who could bear no more of it, "death
is always near to all of us, and especially so in Venice just now.
Therefore, I pray you tell me--in case we should live and _you_ should
die, you and all about you--whether you have any commands to give as
to what should be done with your gold and articles of value, or any
messages to leave for friends in England."
Then, having uttered this grim jest, Dick took his master by the arm and
drew him through the door.
Afterward, for a reason that shall be told, he was sorry that it had
ever passed his lips. Still in the boat Sir Geoffrey applauded him,
saying that his lady's melancholy had grown beyond all bearing, and that
she did little but prate to him about his will and what colour of marble
he desired for his tomb.
After a journey that seemed long to Hugh, who wished to have this
business over, they came to the Place of Arms. Their route there,
however, was not the same which they had followed on the previous night.
Leaving the short way through the low part of the town untraversed, they
rowed from one of the canals into the harbour itself, where they were
joined by many other boats which waited for them and so on to the quay.
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