The Lady of the Ship
[Or so much as is told of her by Paschal Tonkin, steward and major-domoto the lamented John Milliton, of Pengersick Castle, in Cornwall: of hercoming in the Portugal Ship, anno 1526; her marriage with the saidMilliton and alleged sorceries; with particulars of the Barbary menwrecked in Mount's Bay and their entertainment in the town of MarketJew.]My purpose is to clear the memory of my late and dear Master; and tothis end I shall tell the truth and the truth only, so far as I know it,admitting his faults, which, since he has taken them before God, no manshould now aggravate by guess-work. That he had traffic with secretarts is certain; but I believe with no purpose but to fight the Devilwith his own armoury. He never was a robber as Mr. Thomas St. Aubyn andMr. William Godolphin accused him; nor, as the vulgar pretended, alustful and bloody man. What he did was done in effort to save awoman's soul; as Jude tells us, "Of some have compassion, that are indoubt; and others save, having mercy with fear, pulling them out of thefire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh"--though this, alas!my dear Master could not. And so with Jude I would end, praying for allof us and ascribing praise to the only wise God, our Saviour, who isable to guard us from stumbling and set us faultless before His presencewith exceeding joy.It was in January, 1526, after a tempest lasting three days, that theship called the Saint Andrew, belonging to the King of Portugal, droveashore in Gunwallo Cove, a little to the southward of Pengersick.She was bound from Flanders to Lisbon with a freight extraordinaryrich--as I know after a fashion by my own eyesight, as well as from theinventory drawn up by Master Francis Porson, an Englishman, travellingon board of her as the King of Portugal's factor. I have a copy of itby me as I write, and here are some of Master Porson's items:--8,000 cakes of copper, valued by him at 3,224 pounds.18 blocks of silver, ' ' ' 2,250 '.Silver vessels, plate, patens, ewers andpots, beside pearls, precious stones,and jewels of gold.Also a chest of coined money, in amount 6,240 '.There was also cloth of arras, tapestry, rich hangings, satins, velvets,silks, camlets, says, satins or Bruges, with great number of bales ofFlemish and English cloth; 2,100 barber's basins; 3,200 latencandlesticks; a great chest of shalmers and other instruments of music;four sets of armour for the King of Portugal, much harness for hishorses, and much beside--the whole amounting at the least computation to16,000 pounds in value. [1] And this I can believe on confirmation ofwhat I myself saw upon the beach.But let me have done with Master Porson and his tale, which runs thatthe Saint Andrew, having struck at the mouth of the cove, thereutterly perished; yet, by the grace and mercy of Almighty God, thegreater part of the crew got safely to land, and by help of many poorfolk dwelling in the neighbourhood saved all that was most valuable ofthe cargo. But shortly after (says he) there came on the scene threegentlemen, Thomas Saint Aubyn, William Godolphin, and John Milliton,with about sixty men armed in manner of war with bows and swords, andmade an assault on the shipwrecked sailors and put them in great fearand jeopardy; and in the end took from them all they had saved from thewreck, amounting to 10,000 pounds worth of treasure--"which," says he,"they will not yield up, nor make restitution, though they have beencalled upon to do so."So much then for the factor's account, which I doubt not he believed tobe true enough; albeit on his own confession he had lain hurt andunconscious upon the beach at the time, and his tale rested therefore onwhat he could learn by hearsay after his recovery; when--the matterbeing so important--he was at trouble to journey all the way to Londonand lay his complaint before the Portuguese ambassador. Moreover hemade so fair a case of it that the ambassador obtained of the EnglishCourt a Commissioner, Sir Nicholas Fleming, to travel down and pushenquiries on the spot--where Master Porson did not scruple to repeat hisaccusation, and to our faces (having indeed followed the Commissionerdown for that purpose). I must say I thought him a very honest man--notto say a brave one, seeing what words he dared to use to Mr. Saint Aubynin his own house at Clowance, calling him a mere robber. I was therewhen he said it and made me go hot and cold, knowing (if he did not)that for two pins Mr. Saint Aubyn might have had him drowned like apuppy. However, he chose to make nothing of an insult from a factor."Mercator tantum," replied he, snapping his fingers, and to my greatjoy; for any violence might have spoiled the story agreed on betweenus--that is, between Mr. Saint Aubyn, Mr. Godolphin, and me who acted asdeputy for my Master.This story of ours, albeit less honest, had more colour of the truththan Master Porson's hearsay. It ran that Mr. Saint Aubyn, happeningnear Gunwallo, heard of the wreck and rode to it, where presently Mr.Godolphin and my Master joined him and helped to save the men; that, inattempting to save the cargo also, a man of Mr. Saint Aubyn's--one WillCarnarthur--was drowned; that, in fact, very little was rescued; and,seeing the men destitute and without money to buy meat and drink, webought the goods in lawful bargain with the master. As for the assault,we denied it, or that we took goods to the value of ten thousand poundsfrom the sailors. All that was certainly known to be saved amounted toabout 20 pounds worth; and, in spite of many trials to recover more,which failed to pay the charges of labour, the bulk of the cargoremained in the ship and was broken up by the seas.This was our tale, false in parts, yet a truer one than either of us,who uttered it, believed. The only person in the plot (so to say) whoknew it to be true in substance was my Master. I, his deputy, took thisversion from him to Clowance with a mind glad enough to be relieved bymy duty from having any opinion on the matter. On the one hand, I hadthe evidence of my senses that the booty had been saved, and too muchwit to doubt that any other man would conclude it to be in my Master'spossession. On the other, I had never known him lie or deceive, orengage me to further any deceit; his word was his bond, and by practicemy word was his bond also. Further, of this affair I had already begunto wonder if a man's plain senses could be trusted, as you will hearreason by-and-by. As for Mr. Saint Aubyn and Mr. Godolphin, they had nodoubt at all that my Master was lying, and that I had come wittingly tofurther his lie. They would have drawn on him (I make no doubt) had hebrought the tale in person. From me, his intermediate, they took it asthe best to suit with the known truth and present to the Commissioner.All Cornishmen are cousins, you may say. It comes to this, rather:these gentlemen chose to accept my master's lie, and settle with himafterwards, rather than make a clean breast and be forced to wring theirsmall shares out of the Exchequer. A neighbour can be persuaded,terrified, forced; but London is always a long way off, and Londonlawyers are the devil. I say freely that (knowing no more than theydid, or I) these two gentlemen followed a reasonable policy.But, after we had fitted Sir Nicholas with our common story, and as Iwas mounting my horse in Clowance courtyard, Mr. Saint Aubyn came closeto my stirrup and said this by way of parting:"You will understand, Mr. Tonkin, that to-day's tale is for to-day.But by God I will come and take my share--you may tell your master--anda trifle over! And the next time I overtake you I promise to put abullet in the back of your scrag neck."For answer to this--seeing that Master Porson stood at an easy distancewith his eye on us--I saluted him gravely and rode out of the courtyard.Now the manner of the wreck was this, and our concern with it.So nearly as I can learn, the Saint Andrew came ashore at two hoursafter noon: the date, the 20th of January, 1526, and the weather at thetime coarse and foggy with a gale yet blowing from the south-west or agood west of south, but sensibly abating, and the tide wanting an hourbefore low water.It happened that Mr. Saint Aubyn was riding, with twenty men at hisback, homeward from Gweek, where he had spent three days on some privatebusiness, when he heard news of the wreck at a farmhouse on the road toHelleston: and so turning aside, he, whose dwelling lay farthest fromit, came first to the cove. The news reached us at Pengersick a littleafter three o'clock; as I remember because my Master was just thensettled to dinner. But he rose at once and gave word to saddle inhaste, at the same time bidding me make ready to ride with him, andfifteen others.So we set forth and rode--the wind lulling, but the rain coming downsteadily--and reached Gunwallo Cove with a little daylight to spare.On the beach there we found most of the foreigners landed, but seven ofthem laid out starkly, who had been drowned or brought ashore dead(for the yard had fallen on board, the day before, and no time left inthe ship's extremity to bury them): and three as good as dead--amongwhom was Master Porson, with a great wound of the scalp; also everywheregreat piles of freight, chests, bales, and casks--a few staved andtaking damage from salt water and rain, but the most in apparent goodcondition. The crew had worked very busily at the salving, and to thegreat credit of men who had come through suffering and peril of death.Mr. Saint Aubyn's band, too, had lent help, though by this time theflowing of the tide forced them to give over. But the master (as onemight say) of their endeavours was neither the Portuguese captain norMr. Saint Aubyn, but a young damsel whom I must describe moreparticularly.She was standing, as we rode down the beach, nigh to the water's edge;with a group of men about her, and Mr. Saint Aubyn himself listening toher orders. I can see her now as she turned at our approaching and sheand my Master looked for the first time into each other's eyes, whichafterwards were to look so often and fondly. In age she appearedeighteen or twenty; her shape a mere girl's, but her face somewhatolder, being pinched and peaked by the cold, yet the loveliest I haveever seen or shall see. Her hair, which seemed of a copper red,darkened by rain, was blown about her shoulders, and her drenched bluegown, hitched at the waist with a snakeskin girdle, flapped about her asshe turned to one or the other, using more play of hands than ourhome-bred ladies do. Her feet were bare and rosy; ruddied doubtless, bythe wind and brine, but I think partly also by the angry light of thesunsetting which broke the weather to seaward and turned the pools andthe wetted sand to the colour of blood. A hound kept beside her,shivering and now and then lowering his muzzle to sniff the oreweed, asif the brine of it puzzled him: a beast in shape somewhat like ourgrey-hounds, but longer and taller, and coated like a wolf.As I have tried to describe her she stood amid the men and the tangle ofthe beach; a shape majestical and yet (as we drew closer) slight andforlorn. The present cause of her gestures we made out to be adark-skinned fellow whom two of Saint Aubyn's men held prisoner with hisarms trussed behind him. On her other hand were gathered the rest ofthe Portuguese, very sullen and with dark looks whenever she turned fromthem to Saint Aubyn and from their language to the English. He, I couldsee, was perplexed, and stood fingering his beard: but his facebrightened as he came a step to meet my Master."Ha!" said he, "you can help us, Milliton. You speak the Portuguese, Ibelieve?" (For my master was known to speak most of the languages ofEurope, having caught them up in his youth when his father's madnessforced him abroad. And I myself, who had accompanied him so far asVenice, could pick my way in the lingua Franca.) "This fellow"--pointing at the prisoner--"has just drawn a knife on the lady here; andindeed would have killed her, but for this hound of hers. My fellowshave him tight and safe, as you see: but I was thinking by your leave tolodge him with you, yours being the nearest house for the safe keepingof such. But the plague is," says he, "there seems to be more in thebusiness than I can fathom: for one half of these drenched villains takethe man's part, while scarce one of them seems too well disposed towardsthe lady: although to my knowledge she has worked more than any ten ofthem in salving the cargo. And heaven help me if I can understand aword of their chatter!"My Master lifted his cap to her; and she lifted her eyes to him, butnever a word did she utter, though but a moment since she had been usingexcellent English. Only she stood, slight and helpless and (I swear)most pitiful, as one saying, "Here is my judge. I am content."My Master turned to the prisoner and questioned him in the Portuguese.But the fellow (a man taller than the rest and passablystraight-looking) would confess nothing but that his name was Gil Perezof Lagos, the boatswain of the wrecked ship. Questioned of the assault,he shook his head merely and shrugged his shoulders. His face waswhite: it seemed to me unaccountably, until glancing down I took note ofa torn wound above his right knee on the inside, where the hound's teethhad fastened."But who is the captain of the ship?" my Master demanded in Portuguese;and they thrust forward a small man who seemed not over-willing.Indeed his face had nothing to commend him, being sharp and yellow, withsmall eyes set too near against the nose."Your name?" my Master demanded of him too."Affonzo Cabral," he answered, and plunged into a long tale of the lossof his ship and how it happened. Cut short in this and asked concerningthe lady, he shrugged his shoulders and replied with an oath he knewnothing about her beyond this, that she had taken passage with him atDunquerque for Lisbon, paying him beforehand and bearing him a letterfrom the Bishop of Cambrai, which conveyed to him that she was bound onsome secret mission of politics to the Court of Lisbon.As I thought, two or three of the men would have murmured somethinghere, but for a look from her, who, turning to my Master, said quietlyin good English:"That man is a villain. My name is Alicia of Bohemia, and my missionnot to be told here in public. But he best knows why he took me forpassenger, and how he has behaved towards me. Yourselves may see how Ihave saved his freight. And for the rest, sir"--here she bent her eyeson my Master very frankly--"I have proved these men, and claim to bedelivered from them."At this my Master knit his brows: and albeit he was a young man (scarcepast thirty) and a handsome, the deep wedge-mark showed between them asI had often seen it show over the nose of the old man his father."I think," said he to Mr. Saint Aubyn, "this should be inquired into atgreater leisure. With your leave my men shall take the prisoner toPengersick and have him there in safe keeping. And if"--with a bow--"the Lady Alicia will accept my poor shelter it will be the handier forour examining of him. For the rest, cannot we be of service in rescuingyet more of the cargo?"But this for the while was out of question: the Saint Andrew lyingwell out upon the strand, with never fewer than four or five uglybreakers between her and shore; and so balanced that every sea workedher to and fro. Moreover, her mizzen mast yet stood, as by a miracle,and the weight of it so strained at her seams that (thought I) therecould be very little left of her by the next ebb.By now, too, the night was closing down, and we must determine what todo with the cargo saved. Mr. Godolphin, who had arrived with his menduring my Master's colloquy, was ready with an offer of wains andpack-horses to convey the bulk of it to the outhouses at Godolphin.But this, when I interpreted it, the Portuguese captain would not hear.Nor was he more tractable to Mr. Saint Aubyn's offer to set a mixedguard of our three companies upon the stuff until daybreak. He plainlyhad his doubts of such protection: and I could not avoid some respectfor his wisdom while showing it by argument to be mere perversity.To my Master's persuasions and mine he shook his head: asking for thepresent to be allowed a little fuel and refreshment for his men, whowould camp on the beach among their goods. And to this, in the end, wehad to consent. Several times before agreeing--and perhaps more oftenthan need was--my Master consulted with the Lady Alicia. But she seemedindifferent what happened to the ship. Indeed, she might well have beenoverwearied.At length, the Portugals having it their own way, we parted: Mr. SaintAubyn riding off to lodge for the night with Mr. Godolphin, who tookcharge of the three wounded men; while we carried the Lady Alicia off toPengersick (whither the prisoner Gil Perez had been marched on ahead),she riding pillion behind my Master, and the rest of us at a seemlydistance.On reaching home I had first to busy myself with orders for the victualsto be sent down to the foreigners at the Cove, and afterwards insnatching my supper in the great hall, where already I saw my Master andthe strange lady making good cheer together at the high table. He hadbidden the housekeeper fetch out some robes that had been his mother's,and in these antique fittings the lady looked not awkwardly (as youmight suppose), but rather like some player in a masque. I know not how'twas: but whereas (saving my respect) I had always been to my dearMaster as a brother, close to his heart and thoughts, her coming did atonce remove him to a distance from me, so that I looked on the pair asif the dais were part of some other world than this, and they, pledgingeach other up there and murmuring in foreign tongues and playing withglances, as two creatures moving through a play or pisky tale withoutcare or burden of living, and yet in the end to be pitied.My fast broken, I bethought me of our prisoner; and catching up somemeats and a flask of wine, hurried to the strong room where he lay. ButI found him stretched on his pallet, and turning in a kind of fever: soreturned and fetched a cooling draught in place of the victuals, andwithout questioning made him drink it. He thanked me amid somerambling, light-headed talk--the most of it too quickly poured out forme to catch; but by-and-by grew easier and drowsy. I left him to sleep,putting off questions for the morning.But early on the morrow--between five and six o'clock--came Will Hendra,a cowkeeper, into our courtyard with a strange tale; one that disquietedif it did not altogether astonish me. The tale--as told before myMaster, whom I aroused to hear it--ran thus: that between midnight andone in the morning the Portugals in the Cove had been set upon andbeaten from the spoils by a number of men with pikes (no doubt belongingto Saint Aubyn or Godolphin, or both), and forced to flee to the cliffs.But (here came in the wonder) the assailants, having mastered the field,fell on the casks, chests, and packages, only to find them utterly emptyor filled with weed and gravel! Of freight--so Will Hendra had it fromone of Godolphin's own men, who were now searching the cliffs andcaverns--not twelve-pennyworth remained on the beach. The Portugalsmust have hidden or made away with it all. He added that their captainhad been found at the foot of the cliffs with his head battered in; butwhether by a fall or a blow taken in the affray, there was no telling.My Master let saddle at once and rode away for the Cove without breakinghis fast. And I went about my customary duties until full daybreak,when I paid a visit to the strong room, to see how the prisoner hadslept.I found him sitting up in bed and nursing his leg, the wound of whichappeared red and angry at the edges. I sent, therefore, for afomentation, and while applying it thought no harm to tell him thereport from the Cove. To my astonishment it threw him into a transport,though whether of rage or horror I could not at first tell. But hejerked his leg from my grasp, and beating the straw with both fists hecried out--"I knew it! I knew it would be so! She is a witch--a daughter ofSatan, or his leman! It is her doing, I tell you. It is she who haskilled that fool Affonzo. She is a witch!" He fell back on the straw,his strength spent, but still beat weakly with his fists, gasping"Witch--witch!""Hush!" said I. "You are light-headed with your hurt. Lie quiet andlet me tend it.""As for my hurt," he answered, "your tending it will do no good.The poison of that hound of hell is in me, and nothing for me but to saymy prayers. But listen you"--here he sat up again and plucked me by theshoulder as I bent over his leg. "The freight is not gone, and goodreason for why: it was never landed!""Hey?" said I, incredulous."It was never landed. The men toiled as she ordered--Lord, how theytoiled! Without witch-craft they had never done the half of it. I tellyou they handled moonshine--wove sand. The riches they brought ashorewere emptiness; vain shows that already have turned to chips and strawand rubbish. Nay, sir"--for I drew back before these ravings--"listenfor the love of God, before the poison gets hold of me! Soon it will betoo late. . . . The evening before we sailed from Dunquerque, we wereanchored out in the tide. It was my watch. I was leaning on the railof the poop when I caught sight of her first. She was running for herlife across the dunes--running for the waterside--she and her houndbeside her. Away behind her, like ants dotted over the rises of thesand, were little figures running and pursuing. Down by the watersideone boat was waiting, with a man in it--or the Devil belike--leaning onhis oars. She whistled; he pulled close in shore. She leapt into theboat with the dog at her heels, and was half-way across towards our shipbefore the first of those after her reached the water's edge. When shehailed us I ran and fetched Affonzo the master. The rest I charge tohis folly. It was he who handed her up the ship's side. How the dogcame on board I know not: only that I leaned over the bulwarks to have alook at him, but heard a pattering noise, and there he was on deckbehind me and close beside his mistress. The boat and rower hadvanished--under the ship's stern, as I supposed, but now I have mydoubts. I saw no more of them, anyhow."By this time Affonzo was reading her letter. The crowd by the water'sedge had found a boat at length--how, I know not; but it was a verylittle one, holding but six men besides the one rower, and thenover-laden. They pulled towards us and hailed just as the lady took themaster's promise and went down to seek her cabin: and one of the menstood up, a tall gentleman with a chain about his neck. Affonzo went tothe side to parley with him."The tall man with the chain cried out that he was mayor or provost--I forget which--and the woman must be given up as a proved witch who hadlaid the wickedest spells upon many citizens of Dunquerque. All this hehad to shout; for Affonzo, who--either ignorantly or by choice--wasalready on Satan's side, would not suffer him to come aboard or evennigh the ship's ladder. Moreover, he drove below so many of our crew ashad gathered to the side to listen, commanding me with curses to see tothis. Yet I heard something of the mayor's accusation; which was thatthe woman had come to Dunquerque, travelling as a great lady with aretinue of servants and letters of commendation to the religious houses,on which and on many private persons of note she had bestowed relics ofour Lord and the saints, pretending it was for a penance that shejourneyed and gave the bounties: but that, at a certain hour, theserelics had turned into toads, adders, and all manner of abominableoffal, defiling the holy places and private shrines, in some instancesthe very church altars: that upon the outcry her retinue had vanished,and she herself taken to flight as we saw her running."At all this Affonzo scoffed, threatening to sink the boat if furthertroubled with their importunities. And, the provost using threats inreturn, he gave order to let weigh incontinently and clear with thetide, which by this was turned to ebb. And so, amid curses which weanswered by display of our guns, we stood out from that port. Of themaster's purpose I make no guess. Either he was bewitched, or the womanhad taken him with her beauty, and he dreamed of finding favour withher."This only I know, that on the second morning, she standing on deckbeside him, he offered some familiar approach; whereupon the dog flew athim, and I believe would have killed him, but was in time called off byher. Within an hour we met with the weather which after three daysdrove us ashore. Now whether Affonzo suspected her true nature or not--as I know he had taken a great fear of her--I never had time todiscover. But I know her for a witch, and for a witch I tried to makeaway with her. For the rest, may God pardon me!"All this the man uttered not as I have written it, but with many gaspinginterruptions; and afterwards lay back as one dead. Before I could makehead or tail of my wonder, I heard cries and a clatter from thecourtyard, and ran out to see what was amiss.In the courtyard I found my Master with a dozen men closing the bolts ofthe great gate against a company who rained blows and hammerings on theoutside of it. My Master had dismounted, and while he called his ordersthe blood ran down his face from a cut above the forehead. As for thesmoking horses on which they had ridden in, these stood huddling,rubbing shoulders, and facing all ways like a knot of frightened colts.All the bolts being shut, my Master steps to the grille and speakingthrough it, "Saint Aubyn," says he, "between gentlemen there are fitterways to dispute than brawling with servants. I am no thief or robber;as you may satisfy yourself by search and question, bringing, if youwill, Mr. Godolphin and three men to help you under protection of myword. If you will not, then I am ready for you at any time of yourchoosing. But I warn you that, if any man offers further violence to mygate, I send Master Tonkin to melt the lead, of which I have good store.So make your choice."He said it in English, and few of those who heard him could understand.And after a moment Saint Aubyn, who was a very courteous gentleman forall his hot temper, made answer in the same tongue."If I cannot take your word, Pengersick," said he, "be sure no searchingwill satisfy me. But that some of your men have made off with thegoods, with or without your knowledge, I am convinced.""If they have--" my Master was beginning, when Godolphin's sneeringlaugh broke in on his words from the other side of the gate."'If!' 'If!' There are too many if's in this parley for mystomach. Look ye, Pengersick, will you give up the goods or no?"Upon this my Master changed his tone. "As for Mr. Godolphin, I havethis only to say: the goods are neither his nor mine; they are not in mykeeping, nor do I believe them stolen by any of my men. For the wordsthat have passed between us to-day, he knows me well enough to be sure Ishall hold him to account, and that soon: and to that assurancecommending him, I wish you both a very good day."So having said, he strolled off towards the stables, leaving me tolisten at the gate, where by-and-by, after some disputing, I had thepleasure to hear our besiegers draw off and trot away towards Godolphin.Happening to take a glance upwards at the house-front, I caught sight ofthe strange lady at the window of the guest-chamber, which faced towardsthe south-east. She was leaning forth and gazing after them: but,hearing my Master's footsteps as he came from the stables, she withdrewher eyes from the road and nodded down at him gaily.But as he went indoors to join her at breakfast I ran after, andcatching him in the porch, besought him to have his wound seen to."And after that," said I, "there is another wounded man who needs yourattention. Unless you take his deposition quickly, I fear, sir, it maybe too late."His eyebrows went up at this, but contracted again upon the twinge ofhis wound. "I will attend to him first," said he shortly, and led theway to the strong room. "Hullo!" was his next word, as he came to thedoor--for in my perturbation and hurry I had forgotten to lock it."He is too weak to move," I stammered, as my poor excuse."Nevertheless it was not well done," he replied, pushing past me.The prisoner lay on his pallet, gasping, with his eyes wide open in arigor. "Take her away!" he panted. "Take her away! She has beenhere!""Hey?" I cried: but my Master turned on me sharply. To this day I knownot how much of evil he suspected."I will summon you if I need you. For the present you will leave ushere alone."Nor can I tell what passed between them for the next half-an-hour.Only that when he came forth my Master's face was white and set beneathits dry smear of blood. Passing me, who waited at the end of thecorridor, he said, but without meeting my eyes:"Go to him. The end is near."I went to him. He lay pretty much as I had left him, in a kind ofstupor; out of which, within the hour, he started suddenly and began torave. Soon I had to send for a couple of our stablemen; and not toosoon. For by this he was foaming at the mouth and gnashing, the man inhim turned to beast and trying to bite, so that we were forced to straphim to his bed. I shall say no more of this, the most horrible sight ofmy life. The end came quietly, about six in the evening: and we buriedthe poor wretch that night in the orchard under the chapel wall.All that day, as you may guess, I saw nothing of the strange lady.And on the morrow until dinner-time I had but a glimpse of her.This was in the forenoon. She stood, with her hound beside her, in anembrasure of the wall, looking over the sea: to the eye a figure somaidenly and innocent and (in a sense) forlorn that I recalled GilPerez' tale as the merest frenzy, and wondered how I had come to listento it with any belief. Her seaward gaze would be passing over the veryspot where we had laid him: only a low wall hiding the freshly turnedearth. My Master had ridden off early: I could guess upon what errand.He returned shortly after noon, unhurt and looking like a man satisfiedwith his morning's work. And at dinner, watching his demeanournarrowly, I was satisfied that either he had not heard the prisoner'stale or had rejected it utterly. For he took his seat in the gayestspirits, and laughed and talked with the stranger throughout the meal.And afterwards, having fetched an old lute which had been his mother's,he sat and watched her fit new strings to it, rallying her over hertangle. But when she had it tuned and, touching it softly, began thefirst of those murmuring heathenish songs to which I have since listenedso often, pausing in my work, but never without a kind of terror atbeauty so far above my comprehending--why, then my Master laughed nomore.He had met Godolphin that morning and run him through the thigh.And that bitterest enemy of ours still wore a crutch a month later, whenwe faced Master Porson before the Commissioner in Saint Aubyn's house atClowance. At that conference (not to linger over the time between) theCommissioner showed himself pardonably suspicious of us all. He was adry, foxy-faced man, who spoke little and at times seemed scarce to belistening; but rather turning over some deeper matters in his brainbehind his grey-coloured eyes. But at length, Mr. Saint Aubyn havingtwice or thrice made mention of the Lady Alicia and her presence on thebeach, this Sir Nicholas looked up at me sharply, and said he--"By allaccounts this lady was a passenger shipped by the master at Dunquerque.It seems she was a foreign lady of birth, bearing letters commendatoryto the Court of Lisbon.""That was his story of it," Master Porson assented. "I was below andbusy with the cargo at the time, and knew nothing of her presence onboard until we had cleared the harbour.""And at this moment she is a guest of Mr. Milliton's at Pengersick?"pursued Sir Nicholas, still with his eyes upon mine. I bowed, feelingmightily uneasy. "It is most necessary that I should take herevidence--and Mr. Milliton's. In all the statements received by meMr. Milliton bears no small part: his house lies at no distance fromGunwallo Cove: and I have heard much of your Cornish courtesy.It appears to me singular, therefore, that although I have been thesefour days in his neighbourhood no invitation has reached me to visithis house and have audience with him: and it argues small courtesy thaton coming here to-day in full expectation of seeing him, I should befobbed off with a deputy.""Though but a deputy," I protested, "I have my Master's entireconfidence.""No doubt," said he drily. "But it would be more to the point if youhad mine. It is imperative that I see Mr. Milliton of Pengersick andhear his evidence, as also this Lady Alicia's: and you may bear him myrespects and say that I intend to call upon him to-morrow."I bowed. It was all I could do: since the truth (for different reasons)could neither be told to him nor to the others. And the truth was thatfor two days my Master and the strange lady had not been seen atPengersick! They had vanished, and two horses with them: but when andhow I neither knew nor dared push inquiries to discover. Only theporter could have told me had he chosen; but when I questioned him helooked cunning, shook his head, and as good as hinted that I would bewiser to question nobody, but go about my business as if I shared thesecret.And so I did, imitating the porter's manner even before Dame Tresize,the housekeeper. But it rankled that, even while instructing me--as hedid on the eve of his departing--in the part I was to play at Clowance,my Master had chosen to shut me out of this part of his confidence.And now on the road home from Clowance I carried an anxious heart aswell as a sore. To tell the truth--that my Master was away--I had notbeen able, knowing how prompt Saint Aubyn and Godolphin might be to takethe advantage and pay us an unwelcome visit. "And indeed," thought I,"if my Master hides one thing from me, why not another? The stuff mayindeed be stored with us: though I will not believe it without proof."The Commissioner would come, beyond a doubt. To discover my Master'sabsence would quicken his suspicions: to deny him admittance wouldconfirm them.I reached home, yet could get no sleep for my quandary. But a littlebefore the dawning, while I did on my clothes, there came a knocking atthe gate followed by a clatter of hoofs in the courtyard; and hurryingdown, with but pause to light my lantern, I found my Master there andhelping the strange lady to dismount, with the porter and two sleepygrooms standing by and holding torches. Beneath the belly of the lady'shorse stood her hound, his tongue lolling and his coat a cake of mire.The night had been chilly and the nostrils of the hard-ridden beastsmade a steam among the lights we held, while above us the upper frontageof the house stood out clear between the growing daylight and the waningmoon poised above the courtlege-wall in the south-west."Hey! Is that Paschal?" My Master turned as one stiff with riding.His face was ghastly pale, yet full of a sort of happiness: and I sawthat his clothes were disordered and his boots mired to their tops."Good luck!" cried he, handing the lady down. "We can have supper atonce.""Supper?" I repeated it after him."Or breakfast--which you choose. Have the lights lit in the hall, and atable spread. My lady will eat and drink before going to her room.""'My lady'?" was my echo again."Just so--my lady, and my wife, and henceforward your Mistress.Lead the way, if you please! Afterwards I will talk."I did as I was ordered: lit the lights about the dais, spread the clothwith my own hands, fetched forth the cold meats and--for he would haveno servants aroused--waited upon them in silence and poured the wine,all in a whirl of mind. My Mistress (as I must now call her) showed nofatigue, though her skirts were soiled as if they had been draggedthrough a sea of mud. Her eyes sparkled and her bosom heaved as shewatched my Master, who ate greedily. But beyond the gallant words withwhich he pledged her welcome home to Pengersick nothing was said until,his hunger put away, he pushed back his chair and commanded me to tellwhat had happened at Clowance: which I did, pointing out the ticklishposture of affairs, and that for a certainty the Commissioner might belooked for in within a few hours."Well," said my Master, "I see no harm in his coming, nor any profit.The goods are not with us: never were with us: and there's the end ofit."But I was looking from him to my Mistress, who with bent brows satstudying the table before her."Master Paschal," said she after a while, as one awaking from thought,"has done his business zealously and well. I will go to my room now andrest: but let me be aroused when this visitor comes, for I believe thatI can deal with him." And she rose and walked away to the stair, withthe hound at her heels.A little later I saw my Master to his room: and after that had somehours of leisure in which to fret my mind as well over what had happenedas what was likely to. It was hard on noon when the Commissionerarrived: and with him Master Porson. I led them at once to the halland, setting wine before them, sent to learn when my Master and Mistresswould be pleased to give audience. The lady came down almost at once,looking very rosy and fresh. She held a packet of papers, and havingsaluted the Commissioner graciously, motioned me to seat myself at thetable with paper and pen.Sir Nicholas began with some question touching her business on board theSaint Andrew: and in answer she drew a paper from the top of herpacket. It was spotted with sea-water, but (as I could see) yetlegible. The Commissioner studied it, showed it to Master Porson (whonodded), and handing it back politely, begged her for some particularsconcerning the wreck.Upon this she told the story clearly and simply. There had been a threedays' tempest: the ship had gone ashore in such and such a manner: agreat part of the cargo had undoubtedly been landed. It was on thebeach when she had left it under conduct of Mr. Milliton, who had shownher great kindness. On whomsoever its disappearance might be charged,of her host's innocence she could speak.My Master appearing just now saluted the Commissioner and gave hisversion very readily."You may search my cellars," he wound up, "and, if you please,interrogate my servants. My livery is known by everyone in thisneighbourhood to be purple and tawny. The seamen can tell you if any oftheir assailants wore these colours.""They assure me," said Sir Nicholas, "that the night was too dark forthem to observe colours: and for that matter to disguise them would havebeen a natural precaution. There was a wounded man brought to yourhouse--one Gil Perez, the boatswain.""He is dead, as you doubtless know, of a bite received from this lady'shound as he was attacking her with a knife.""But why, madam"--the factor turned to my Mistress--"should this manhave attacked you?"She appeared to be expecting this question, and drew from her packet asecond paper, which she unfolded quietly and spread on the table, yetkept her palm over the writing on it while she answered, "Those whoengage upon missions of State must look to meet with attacks, but not tobe asked to explain them. The mob at Dunquerque pursued me upon aridiculous charge, yet was wisely incited by men who invented it,knowing the true purpose of my mission." She glanced from theCommissioner to Master Porson. "Sir Nicholas Fleming--surely I haveheard his name spoken, as of a good friend to the Holy Father and nottoo anxious for the Emperor's marriage with Mary Tudor?"The Commissioner started in his chair, while she turned serenely uponhis companion. "And Master Porson," she continued, "as a faithfulservant of His Majesty of Portugal will needs be glad to see a princessof Portugal take Mary Tudor's place. Eh?"--for they were eyeing eachthe other like two detected schoolboys--"It would seem, sirs, thatthough you came together, you were better friends than you guessed.Glance your eye, Master Porson, over this paper which I shall presentlyentrust to you for furtherance; and you will agree with Sir Nicholasthat the prudent course for both of you is to forget, on leaving thishouse, that any such person as I was on board the Saint Andrew."The two peered into the parchment and drew back. "The Emperor--" Iheard the Commissioner mutter with an intake of breath."And, as you perceive, in his own handwriting." She folded up the paperand, replacing it, addressed my Master. "Your visitors, sir, deservesome refreshment for their pains and courtesy."And that was the end of the conference. What that paper contained Iknow as little as I know by what infernal sorcery it was prepared.Master Porson folded it up tight in his hand, glancing dubiously at SirNicholas. My lady stood smiling upon the both for a moment, thendismissed me to the kitchens upon a pretended errand. They were gonewhen I returned, nor did I again set eyes upon the Commissioner or thefactor. It is true that the Emperor did about this time break hispledge with our King Henry and marry a princess of Portugal; and some ofhigh office in England were not sorry therefore. But of this enough.As the days wore on and we heard no more of the wreck, my Master andMistress settled down to that retirement from the world which is bycustom allowed to the newly married, but which with them was to last tothe end. A life of love it was; but--God help us!--no life ofhappiness; rather, in process of days, a life of torment. Can I tellyou how it was? At first to see them together was like looking througha glass upon a picture; a picture gallant and beautiful yet removedbehind a screen and not of this world. Suppose now that by little andlittle the glass began to be flawed, or the picture behind it to crumble(you could not tell which) until when it smiled it smiled wryly, untilrocks toppled and figures fell askew, yet still kept up their pretenceof play against the distorted woodland. Nay, it was worse than this:fifty times worse. For while the fair show tottered, my Master andMistress clung to their love; and yet it was just their love which keptthe foundations rocking.They lived for each other. They neither visited nor received visits.Yet they were often, and by degrees oftener, apart; my Master locked upwith his books, my Mistress roaming the walls with her hound or seatedby her lattice high on the seaward side of the castle. Sometimes (butthis was usually on moonlit nights or windless evenings when the sunsank clear to view over our broad bay) she would take up her lute andtouch it to one of those outlandish love-chants with which she had firstwiled my Master's heart to her. As time went on, stories came to usthat these chants, which fell so softly on the ears of us as we wentabout the rooms and gardens, had been heard by fishermen riding by theirnets far in the offing--so far away (I have heard) as the Scillies; andthere were tales of men who, as they listened, had seen the ghosts ofdrowned mariners rising and falling on the moon-rays, or floating withtheir white faces thrown back while they drank in the music; yea, evenechoing the words of the song in whispers like the flutter of birds'wings.When first the word crept about that she was a witch I cannot certainlysay. But in time it did; and, what is more--though I will swear that noword of Gil Perez' confession ever passed my lips--the common folk soonheld it for a certainty that the cargo saved from the Saint Andrew hadbeen saved by her magic only; that the plate and rich stuffs seen by myown eyes were but cheating simulacra, and had turned into rubbish atmidnight, scarce an hour before the assault on the Portuguese.I have wondered since if 'twas this rumour and some belief in it whichheld Messrs. Saint Aubyn and Godolphin from offering any further attackon us. You might say that it was open to them, so believing, to havedenounced her publicly. But in our country Holy Church had littlehold--scarce more than the King's law itself in such matters; and withinmy memory it has always come easier to us to fear witch-craft than todenounce it. Also (and it concerns my tale) the three years whichfollowed the stranding of the Saint Andrew were remarkable for a greatnumber of wrecks upon our coast. In that short time we of our parishand the men of St. Hilary upon our north were between us favoured withno fewer than fourteen; the most of them vessels of good burden. Of anyhand in bringing them ashore I know our gentry to have been innocent.Still, there were pickings; and finding that my Master held aloof fromall share in such and (as far as could be) held his servants aloof, ourneighbours, though not accepting this for quittance, forbore to pressthe affair of the Saint Andrew further than by spreading injurioustales and whispers.The marvel was that we of Pengersick (who reaped nothing of thisharvest) fell none the less under suspicion of decoying the vesselsashore. More than once in my dealings with the fishermen and tradesmenof Market Jew, I happened on hints of this; but nothing which could betaken hold of until one day a certain Peter Chynoweth of that town,coming drunk to Pengersick with a basket of fish, blurted out the tale.Said he, after I had beaten him down to a reasonable price, "Twould beeasy enough, one would think, to spare an honest man a groat of thefortune Pengersick makes on these dark nights.""Thou lying thief!" said I. "What new slander is this?""Come, come," says he, looking roguish; "that won't do for me that haveseen the false light on Cuddan Point more times than I can count; and sohas every fisherman in the bay."Well, I kicked him through the gate for it, and flung his basket afterhim; but the tale could not be so dismissed. "It may be," thought I,"some one of Pengersick has engaged upon this wickedness on his ownaccount"; and for my Master's credit I resolved to keep watch.I took therefore the porter into my secret, who agreed to let me throughthe gate towards midnight without telling a soul. I took a sheepskinwith me and a poignard for protection; and for a week, from midnight todawn, I played sentinel on Cuddan Point, walking to and fro, orstretched under the lee of a rock whence I could not miss any lightshown on the headland, if Peter Chynoweth's tale held any truth.By the eighth trial I had pretty well made up my mind (and withoutastonishment) that Peter Chynoweth was a liar. But scarcely had Ireached my post that night when, turning, I descried a radiance as of alantern, following me at some fifty paces. On the instant I gripped mypoignard and stepped behind a boulder. The light drew nearer, came, andpassed me. To my bewilderment it was no lantern, but an open flame,running close along the turf and too low for anyone to be carrying it:nor was the motion that of a light which a man carries.Moreover, though it passed me within half-a-dozen yards and lit up thestone I stood behind, I saw nobody and heard no footstep, though thewind (which was south-westerly) blew from it to me. In this breeze theflame quivered, though not violently but as it were a ball of firerolling with a flickering crest.It went by, and I followed it at something above walking pace until uponthe very verge of the head-land, where I had no will to risk my neck, ithalted and began to be heaved up and down much like the poop-light of avessel at sea. In this play it continued for an hour at least; then itcame steadily back towards me by the way it had gone, and as it came Iran upon it with my dagger. But it slipped by me, travelling at speedtowards the mainland; whither I pelted after it hot-foot, and so acrossthe fields towards Pengersick. Strain as I might, I could not overtakeit; yet contrived to keep it within view, and so well that I was bare ahundred yards behind when it came under the black shadow of the castleand without pause glided across the dry moat and so up the face of thewall to my lady's window, which there overhung. And into this window itpassed before my very eyes and vanished.I know not what emboldened me, but from the porter's lodge I wentstraight up to my Master's chamber, where (though the hour must havebeen two in the morning or thereabouts) a light was yet burning.Also--but this had become ordinary--a smell of burning gums and herbsfilled the passage leading to his door. He opened to my knock, andstood before me in his dressing-gown of sables--a tall figure of a manand youthful, though already beginning to stoop. Over his shoulder Iperceived the room swimming with coils of smoke which floated in theirwreaths from a brazier hard by the fireplace.I think his first motion was to thrust me away; but I caught him by thehand, and with many protestations broke into my tale, giving him no timeto forbid me. And presently he drew me inside, and shutting the door,stood upright by the table, facing me with his fingers on the rim as ifthey rested there for support."Paschal," said he, when at length I drew back, "this must not come tomy lady's ears. She has been ailing of late.""Ay, sir, and long since: of a disease past your curing.""God help us! I hope not," said he; then broke out violently: "She isinnocent, Paschal; innocent as a child!""Innocent!" cried I, in a voice which showed how little I believed."Paschal," he went on, "you are my servant, but my friend also, I hope.Nay, nay, I know. I swear to you, then, these things do but happen inher sleep. In her waking senses she is mine, as one day she shall bemine wholly. But at night, when her will is dissolved in sleep, theevil spirit wakes and goes questing after its master.""Mahound?" I stammered, quaking."Be it Satan himself," said he, very low and resolute, "I will win herfrom him, though my own soul be the ransom.""Dear my Master," I began, and would have implored him on my knees; buthe pointed to the door. "I will win her," he repeated. "What you haveseen to-night happens more rarely now. Moreover, the summer isbeginning--"He paused: yet I had gathered his meaning. "There will be less perilfor the ships for a while," said I.Said he: "To them she intends no harm. It is for her master the lightwaves. Paschal, I am an unhappy man!" He flung a hand to his forehead,but recovering himself peered at me under the shadow of it. "If youcould watch--often--as you have done to-night--you might protect othersfrom seeing--"The wisdom of this at least I saw, and gave him my promise readily.Upon this understanding (for no more could be had) I withdrew me.The next day, therefore, I moved my bed to a turret-chamber on the angleof the south-eastern wall whence I could keep my lady's window in view.I was never a man to need much sleep: but if, through the year whichfollowed, the apparition escaped once or twice without my cognisance, Idare take oath this was the extent of it. It appeared more rarely, asmy Master had promised: and in the end (I think) scarce above once amonth. In form it never varied from the cresseted globe of flame I hadfirst seen, and always it took the path across the fields towards CuddanPoint. No sound went with it, or announced its going or return: andwhile it was absent, my lady's chamber would be utterly dark and silent.My custom was not to follow it (which I had proved to be useless), butto let myself out and patrol the walls, satisfying myself that nowatchers lurked about the castle. I understood now that Pengersick wasreported throughout the neighbourhood to be haunted: and such a reportis not the worst protection. These vague tales kept aloof the countrypeople who, but for them, had almost certainly happened on the secret.And night after night while I watched, my Master wrestled with the EvilOne in his room.The last time I saw the apparition was on the night of May 10th, 1529,more than three years after my lady's first coming to Pengersick.I was prepared for it: for she had been singing at her window a greatpart of the afternoon, and I had learnt to be warned by this mood.The night was a dark one, with flying clouds and a stiff breeze blowingup from the south-east. The flame left my lady's window at the usualhour--a few minutes after midnight--but returned some while before itsdue time. In ordinary it would be away for an hour and a half, or fromthat to two hours, but this night I had scarcely begun my rounds beforeI saw it returning across the fields. Nor was this the only surprise.For as I watched it up the wall and saw it gain my lady's window, Iheard the hound within lift up its voice in a long, shuddering howl.I lost no time, but made my way to my Master's room. He, too, had heardthe dog's howl, and was strangely perturbed. "It means something.It means something," he kept repeating. He had already run to hiswife's chamber, but found her in a deep slumber and the hound (whichalways slept on the floor at her bed's foot) composing itself to sleepagain, with jowl dropped on its fore-paws.The next morning I had fixed to ride into the Market Jew to fetch apacket of books which was waiting there for my Master. But at theentrance of the town I found the people in great commotion, the cause ofwhich turned out to be a group of Turk men gathered at the hither end ofthe causeway leading to the Mount. One told me they were Moslems (whichindeed was apparent at first sight) and that their ship had run ashorethat night, under the Mount; but with how much damage was doubtful.She lay within sight, in a pretty safe position, and not so badly fixedbut I guessed the next tide would float her if her bottom were notbroken. The Moslems (nine in all) had rowed ashore in their boat andlanded on the causeway; but with what purpose they had no chance toexplain: for the inhabitants, catching sight of their knives andscymeters, could believe in nothing short of an intent to murder andplunder; and taking courage in numbers, had gathered (men and women) tothe causeway-head to oppose them. To be sure these fears had somewarrant in the foreigners' appearance: who with their turbans, tunics,dark faces and black naked legs made up a show which Market Jew hadnever known before nor (I dare say) will again.Nor had the mildness of their address any effect but to raise a freshcommotion. For, their leader advancing with outstretched hands andmaking signals that he intended no mischief but rather sued forassistance, at once a cry went up, "The Plague!" "The Plague!" at whichI believe the crowd would have scattered like sheep had not a few sturdyvolunteers with pikes and boat-hooks forbidden his nearer approach.Into this knot the conference had locked itself when I rode up and--thecrowd making way for me--addressed the strangers in the lingua Franca,explaining that my Master of Pengersick was a magistrate and would beforward to help them either with hospitality or in lending aid to gettheir ship afloat; further that they need have no apprehension of thecrowd, which had opposed them in fear, not in churlishness; yet it mightbe wise for the main body to stay and keep guard over the cargo whiletheir spokesman went with me to Pengersick.To this their leader at once consented; and we presently set forthtogether, he walking by my horse with an agile step and that gracefulbearing which I had not seen since my days of travel: a bearded swarthyman, extraordinarily handsome in Moorish fashion and distinguished fromhis crew not only by authority as patron of the ship, but by a naturaldignity. I judged him about forty. Me he treated with courtesy, yetwith a reticence which seemed to say he reserved his speech for myMaster. Of the wreck he said nothing except that his ship had been bymany degrees out of her bearings: and knowing that the Moorish disastersin Spain had thrown many of their chiefs into the trade of piracy I wascontented to smoke such an adventurer in this man, and set him down forone better at fighting than at navigation.With no more suspicion than this I reached Pengersick and, bestowing thestranger in the hall, went off to seek my Master. For the change thatcame over my dear lord's face as he heard my errand I was in no wayprepared. It was terrible."Paschal," he cried, sinking into a chair and spreading both handshelplessly on the table before him, "it is he! Her time is come, andmine!"It was in vain that I reasoned, protesting (as I believed) that thestranger was but a chance pirate cast ashore by misadventure; and asvain that, his fears infecting me, I promised to go down and get rid ofthe fellow on some pretence."No," he insisted, "the hour is come. I must face it: and what is more,Paschal, I shall win. Another time I shall be no better prepared.Bring him to my room and then go and tell my lady that I wish to speakwith her."I did so. On ushering in the stranger I saw no more than the bow withwhich the two men faced each other: for at once my Master signalled meto run on my further errand. Having delivered my message at my lady'sdoor, I went down to the hall, and lingering there, saw her pass alongthe high gallery above the dais towards my lord's room, with the houndat her heels.Thence I climbed the stair to my own room: locked the door and anonunlocked it, to be ready at sudden need. And there I paced hour afterhour, without food, listening. From the courtyard came the noise of thegrooms chattering and splashing: but from the left wing, where lay myMaster's rooms, no sound at all. Twice I stole out along thecorridors and hung about the stair head: but could hear nothing, andcrept back in fear to be caught eavesdropping.It was about five in the afternoon (I think), all was still in thecourtyard, when I heard the click of a latch and, running to the window,saw the porter closing his wicket gate. A minute later, on a risebeyond the wall, I spied the Moor. His back was towards the castle andhe was walking rapidly towards Market Jew: and after him padded mylady's hound.I hurried along the passages and knocked at my Master's door. No oneanswered. I could not wait to knock again, but burst it open.On the floor at my feet lay my Master, and hard by the window myMistress with her hands crossed upon a crucifix. My Master had nocrucifix: but his face wore a smile--a happier one than it had worn foryears.[1] About 150,000 pounds in present money.