Part 110 (1/2)
The pardoner denied the charge flatly. ”Indulgences were never cheaper to good husbandmen.”
The other inquired ”Who were they?”
”Why such as sin by the market, like reasonable creatures. But if your will be so perverse as go and pick out a crime the Pope hath set his face against, blame yourself, not me?”
Then, to prove that crime of one sort or another was within the means of all, but the very sc.u.m of society, he read out the scale from a written parchment.
It was a curious list: but not one that could be printed in this book.
And to mutilate it would be to misrepresent it. It is to be found in any great library. Suffice it to say, that murder of a layman was much cheaper than many crimes my lay readers would deem light by comparison.
This told; and by a little trifling concession on each side, the bargain was closed, the money handed over, and the aspirant to heaven's favour forgiven beforehand for removing 1 layman. The price for disposing of a clerk bore no proportion.
The word a.s.sa.s.sination was never once uttered by either merchant.
All this buzzed in Gerard's ear. But he never lifted his head from the table; only listened stupidly.
However, when the parties rose and separated, he half raised his head and eyed with a scowl the retiring figure of the purchaser.
”If Margaret was alive,” muttered he, ”I'd take thee by the throat and throttle thee, thou cowardly stabber. But she is dead; dead; dead. Die all the world; 'tis nought to me: so that I die among the first.”
When he got home there was a man in a slouched hat walking briskly to and fro on the opposite side of the way.
”Why there is that cur again,” thought Gerard.
But in his state of mind, the circ.u.mstance made no impression whatever on him.
CHAPTER LXVIII
TWO nights after this Pietro Vanucci and Andrea sat waiting supper for Gerard.
The former grew peevish. It was past nine o'clock. At last he sent Andrea to Gerard's room on the desperate chance of his having come in un.o.bserved. Andrea shrugged his shoulders and went.
He returned without Gerard, but with a slip of paper. Andrea could not read, as scholars in his day and charity boys in ours understand the art; but he had a quick eye, and had learned how the words Pietro Vanucci looked on paper.
”That is for you, I trow,” said he, proud of his intelligence.
Pietro s.n.a.t.c.hed it, and read it to Andrea, with his satirical comments.
”'Dear Pietro, dear Andrea, life is too great a burden.'
”_So 'tis, my lad; but that is no reason for being abroad at supper-time. Supper is not a burden._
”'Wear my habits!'
”_Said the poplar to the juniper bush._
”'And thou, Andrea, mine amethyst ring; and me in both your hearts, a month or two.'
”_Why, Andrea?_