"My need was sore and I sent a messenger to Hugh bidding him meet me in the Blythburgh Marsh.

There we were set on, and there John Clavering, my brother, smote Hugh in the face.

Would you, a de Cressi, have had him take the blow and yield me up to the Frenchman ?" "By God and my forefathers, no! least of all from one of your stock--saving your presence," answered the merchant.

"In truth, had he done so, dead or living from that day I would have called him no son of mine.

Yet, Red Eve, you and he and your love-makings have brought much trouble on me and my House.