there came a thin streak of flame that seemed to alight on
or about this very house. Indeed I thought I heard a sound as of iron
striking upon iron, but could find no cause for it."

"Wondrous happenings, sir," said Grey Dick. "Glad am I that we were not
with you, lest the sight of them should have made us fearful on this
morning of combat."

"Wondrous happenings indeed, friend Richard," said Sir Geoffrey
excitedly, "but you have not heard the half of them. The herald, who has
just been here with the final articles of your fray signed by the Doge
and Cattrina, has told me much that I can scarce believe. He says that
the great galley from this port which is called _Light of the East_
drifted up to the quay at the Place of Arms last night on her return
voyage from Cyprus, filled with dead and with no living thing aboard her
save the devil himself in a yellow robe and a many-hued head-dress like
a cock's-comb with a red eye. He swears that this fiend landed and that
the mob set on him, whereon two, some say three, other devils clad in
long black gowns appeared out of the water and drove them back. Also,
it seems that this same cock's-combed Satan stole a boat and rowed about
the city afterward, but now none can find him, although they have got
the boat."

"Then they should be well satisfied," said Hugh, "since its owner has
lost nothing but the hire, which with Satan at the oars is better than
might be hoped. Perhaps he was not there after all, Sir Geoffrey."

"I know not, but at least the galley _Light of the East_ is there, for
ever since the dawn they have been taking the dead out of her to bury
them. Of these they say things too terrible to repeat, for no doctor can
tell of what sickness they died, never having seen its like. For my part
I pray it may not be catching. Were I the Doge I would have towed her
out to sea and scuttled her, cargo and all. Well, well, enough of these
wild tales, of which God alone knows the truth. Come, eat, if you can in
this heat. We must be on the Place of Arms by half-past eight. You and
the captain go thither in my own boat, Sir Hugh; your horse David Day
takes on presently. Now, while you breakfast, I'll explain to you these
articles, one by one, for they are writ in Italian, which you cannot
read. See you forget them not. These Venetians are punctilious of such
forms and ceremonies, especially when the case is that of combat to the
death, which is rare among them."

The articl