Master Secretary, get your
tools, I will dictate the letters. After they are signed to-morrow, see
them into the hands of Sir Hugh, with others that I will give him for
safe carriage, for alas I have creditors at Venice. Make out an open
patent also to show that he and this captain travel as our messengers,
charging all that do us service to forward them upon their journey."

Three days later Hugh and Grey Dick, in the character of royal
messengers from the King of England to the Doge of Venice, took passage
in a great vessel bound for Genoa with a cargo of wool and other goods.
On board this ship before he sailed Hugh handed to his father letters
for Eve and for Sir Andrew Arnold. Also he received from him money in
plenty for his faring, and bills of exchange upon certain merchants of
Italy, which would bring him more should it be needed.

Their parting was very sad, since the prophecies of Sir Andrew had taken
no small hold upon Master de Cressi's mind.

"I fear me greatly, dear son," he said, "that we part to meet no more.
Well, such is the lot of parents. They breed those children that heaven
decrees to them; with toil and thought and fears they rear them up from
infancy, learning to love them more than their own souls, for their
sakes fighting a hard world. Then the sons go forth, north and south,
and the daughters find husbands and joys and sorrows of their own, and
both half forget them, as is nature's way. Last of all those parents
die, as also is nature's way, and the half forgetfulness becomes whole
as surely as the young moon grows to full. Well, well, this is a lesson
that each generation must learn in turn, as you will know ere all is
done. Although you are my youngest, I'll not shame to say I have loved
you best of all, Hugh. Moreover, I've made such provision as I can for
you, who have raised up the old name to honour, and who, as I hope, will
once more blend the de Cressis and the Claverings, the foes of three
generations, into a single House."

"Speak not so, father," answered Hugh, who was moved almost to tears.
"Mayhap it is I who shall die, while you live on to a green old age.
At least know that I am not forgetful of your love and kindness, seeing
that after Eve you are dearer to me than any on the earth."

"Ay, ay, after Eve and Eve's children. Still you'll have a kind thought
for me now and then, the old merchant who so often thwarted you when you
were a wayward lad--for your own good, as