was no dream of which
I tell you. Why do you suppose that among all those that have grown up
about me I have chosen you out to love, you and your Eve? Not because
a chance made me your godsire and her my pupil. I say that from your
infancy your faces haunted me. Ay, and when you had turned childhood's
corner and once I met the pair of you walking hand in hand, then of a
sudden I knew that it was you two and no others whom that god or devil
had showed to me standing by the open grave upon the banks of Blythe. I
knew it of Dick the Archer also, and can I be mistaken of such a man as
that who has no fellow in England? But you think I dreamed it all, and
perhaps I should not have spoken, though something made me speak.
Well, in a day to come you may change your mind, since whatever dangers
threaten you will not die yet, Hugh. Tell me now, what is this Frenchman
like who would marry Eve? I have never seen him."

Hugh, who was glad to get back to the things of earth, described Acour
as best he could.

"Ah!" said Sir Andrew. "Much such a man as stood face to face with you
by the grave while Murgh watched; and you are not likely to be friends,
are you? But I forgot. You have determined that it was but a dream and
now you are wondering how he who is called Gate of the Gods in Cathay
could come to Blythburgh. Well, I think that all the world is his
garden, given to him by God, but doubtless that's only another face of
my dream whereof we'll speak no more--at present. Now for your troubles,
which are no dream. Lie you down to sleep on the skin of that striped
beast. I killed it in Cathay--in my day of dreams, and now it shall
serve for yours, from which may the dead eyes of John Clavering be
absent! I go forth to seek your father and to arrange certain matters.
With Grey Dick at the door you'll be safe for a while, I think. If not,
here's a cupboard where you may hide." And, drawing aside the arras, he
showed him a certain secret place large enough to hold a man, then left
the room.

Hugh laid himself upon the skin of the beast, which had been a tiger,
though he did not know it by that name. So weary was he that not all he
had gone through that day or even the old warrior-priest's marvellous
tale, in which he and Eve played so wonderful a part, could keep his
eyes from closing. Presently he was fast asleep, and so remained until,
four hours later, something disturbed him, and he awoke to see Sir
Andrew writing at a desk.

"Ri