Well, till to-morrow at this
hour, friend Basil."
"We have learned two things, master," said Dick, when the lawyer had
bowed himself out. "First, that Acour is, or has been, in Avignon, and
secondly, that Murgh the Messenger, Murgh the Sword, has been or is in
Avignon. Let us go seek for one of the other of them, since for my part
I desire to meet them both."
So all that day they sought but found neither.
Next morning Basil reappeared, according to his promise, and informed
them that their business was on foot. Also he said that it was likely to
prove more difficult than he anticipated. Indeed, he understood that he
who was named de Noyon and Cattrina, having friends among the cardinals,
had already obtained some provisional ratification of his marriage with
the lady Eve Clavering. This ratification it would now be costly and
difficult to set aside.
Hugh answered that if only he could be granted an audience with his
Holiness, he had evidence which would make the justice of his cause
plain. What he sought was an audience.
The notary scratched his lantern jaws and asked how that could be
brought about when every gate of the palace was shut because of the
plague. Still, perhaps, it might be managed, he added, if a certain sum
were forthcoming to bribe various janitors and persons in authority.
Hugh gave him the sum out of the store of gold they had taken from the
robbers in the mountains, with something over for himself.
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