TowhichDeleroymockedinanswer:
\"Good！I\'llgo,mygentlecousin,whichitsuitsmewelltodowhohavecertainbusinessoftheKing\'sawaitingmeinFrance。Aye,I\'llgoandleaveyoutosettlewiththisworthytraderwhomayholdthatyouhavedupedhim。Doitasyouwill,exceptinonefashion,ofwhichyouknow。NowawordwithmycousinBlancheandanotheratthePalaceandIrideforDover。Farewell,CousinAleys。Farewell,worthymerchantforwhoselossIshouldgrieve,didInotknowthatsoonyouwillrecoupyourselfoutofgentlepockets。Mournnotovermeovermuch,eitherofyou,sincedoubtlesseresoverylongIshallreturn。\"
NowmybloodflamedupandIanswered:
\"Iprayyoudonothurry,mylord,lestyoushouldfindmewaitingforyouwithashieldandaswordinplaceofawarrantandapen。\"
Heheardandcalledout,\"ForeGod,thischapmanthinkshimselfaknight！\"
Thenwithamockinglaughhewent。
CHAPTERVI
MARRIAGE——ANDAFTER
SirRobertandIstoodfacingeachotherspeechlesswithrage,bothofus。Atlengthhesaidinahoarsevoice:
\"Yourpardon,MasterHastings,fortheaffrontsthatthisbastardlordlinghasputuponyou,anhonestman。Itellyouthatheisaloose—livingknave,asyouwouldagreeifyouknewallhisstory,acockatricethatformysinsIhavenurturedinmybosom。\'Tishethathaswastedallmysubstance;\'tishethathasmadefreeofmyname,sothatIfearmeyouaredefrauded。\'Tishethatusesmyhouseasthoughitwerehisown,bringingintoitvilewomenoftheCourt,andmenthatarevilerstill,howeverhightheirnamesandgaudytheirattire,\"andhechokedwithhiswrathandstopped。
\"Whydoyousufferthesethings,sir？\"Iasked。
\"ForsoothbecauseImust,\"heansweredsullenly,\"forhehasmeandminebythethroat。ThisDeleroyisverypowerful,MasterHastings。AtawordfromhimwhisperedintheKing\'sear,I,oryou,oranymanmightfindourselvesintheToweraccusedoftreason,whenceweshouldappearnomore。\"
Then,asthoughhewishedtogetawayfromthesubjectofDeleroyandhisholduponhim,hewenton:
\"Ifearmethatyourmoney,ormuchofit,isindangerforDeleroy\'sbondisworthless,andsincethelandisalreadypledgedwithoutmyknowledge,Ihavenowheretoturnforgold。ItellyouthatIamanhonestmanifonewhohasfallenintoillcompany,andthiswickednesscutsmedeep,forIknownothowyouwillberepaid。\"
Nowathoughtcametome,andaswasmyboldfashioninallbusiness,Iactedonitinstantly。
\"SirRobertAleys,\"Isaid,\"shoulditbepleasingtoyouandanother,Icanseeawayinwhichthisdebtmaybecancelledwithoutshametoyouandyettomyprofit。\"
\"TheninGod\'snamespeakit！ForIseenone。\"
\"Sir,inbygonetime,asitchancedIwasableyonderatHastingstodosomeservicetoyourdaughterandinthathourshetookmyheart。\"
Hestartedbutmotionedtometocontinue。
\"Sir,Ilovehertrulyanddesiremorethananythingtomakehermywife。Iknowsheisfarabovemeinstation,stillalthoughbutamerchant,IamofgooddescentasIcanprovetoyou。Moreover,Iamrich,forthismoneythatIhaveadvancedtoyou,ortothelordDeleroy,isbutasmallpartofmywealthwhichgrowsdaybydaythroughhonesttrade。Sir,ifmysuitwereacceptedIshouldbeready,notonlytohelpyoufurtheroncertainterms,butbydeedandwilltosettlemostofitupontheladyBlancheanduponourchildren。Sir,whatsayyou？\"
SirRoberttuggedathisredbeardandstareddownatthefloor。
PresentlyheliftedhisheadandIsawthathisfacewastroubled,thefaceofaman,indeed,whoisstrugglingwithhimself,or,asI
thought,withhispride。
\"Afairofferfairlyput,\"hesaid,\"butthequestionis,notwhatI
say,butwhatsaysBlanche。\"
\"Sir,Idonotknowwhohaveneveraskedher。YetattimesIhavethoughtthathermindtowardsmeisnotunkind。\"
\"Isitso？Well,perhapsnowthathe——well,letthatlie。MasterHastings,youhavemyleavetotryyourfortuneandItellyoustraightthatIhopeitwillbegood。WithyourwealthyourrankmaybesoonmendedandyouareanhonestmanwhomIshouldbegladtowelcomeasason,forIhavehadenoughoftheseCourtknavesandpaintedJezebels。ButifsuchisyourfancytowardsBlanche,mycounseltoyouisthatyouputitquicklytotheproof——aye,man,atonce。Markmywords,forsuchaswanassheismanysnaresaresetbeneaththedirtywatersofthisCourt。\"
\"Thesoonerthebetter,sir。\"
\"Good。I\'llsendhertoyouand,onewordmore——benotovershy,orreadytotakethefirst\'no\'forananswer,ortolistentothetaleofbygonefancies,suchasallwomenhave。\"
Thensuddenlyhewent,leavingmetherewonderingathiswordsandmanner,whichIdidnotunderstand。ThisIunderstood,however,thathedesiredthatIshouldmarryBlanche,whichconsideringallthingsI
heldsomewhatstrange,althoughIhadthewealthshelacked。
Doubtless,Ithought,itmustbebecausehishonourhadbeentouchedonthematterofthetrickthathadbeenplayeduponhimwithouthisknowledge。ThenIceasedfromthesewonderingsandgavemythoughttowhatIshouldsaytoBlanche。
Iwaitedalongwhileandstillshedidnotcome,tillatlastI
believedthatshewasawayfromthehouse,orguessingmybusiness,hadrefusedtoseeme。Atlength,however,sheenteredtheroom,sosilentlythatIwhowasstaringatthegreatabbeythroughawindow—
placeneverheardthedooropenorclose。Ithinkthatsomesenseofherpresencemusthavedrawnme,sincesuddenlyIturnedtoseeherstandingbeforeme。Shewascladallinwhite,havingaroundcaporcoronetuponherheadbeneathwhichhershiningfairhairwasloopedinbraids。Herlittlecoat,trimmedwithermine,wasfastenedwithasinglejewel,thatrubyheartembracedbyserpentswhichIhadgivenher。Sheworenootherornament。Thusseenshelookedmostlovelyandmostsweetandallmyheartwentoutinyearningforher。
\"Myfathertellsmethatyouwishtospeakwithme,soIhavecome,\"
shesaidinherlowclearvoice,searchingmyfacecuriouslywithherlargeeyes。
Ibowedmyheadandpaused,notknowinghowtobegin。
\"HowcanIserveyou,who,Ifear,havebeenillserved？\"shewentonwithalittlesmileasthoughshefoundamusementinmyconfusion。
\"Inonewayonly,\"Iexclaimed,\"bygivingyourselfinmarriagetome。
ForthatIseek,noless。\"
Nowherfairfacethathadbeenpalebecamestainedwithredandshelethereyesfallasthoughsheweresearchingforsomethingamongtherushesthatstrewedthefloor。
\"Hearkenbeforeyouanswer,\"Icontinued。\"WhenfirstIspokewithyouonthatbloodydayatHastingsandyouhadbutjustcometowomanhood,IlovedyouandsworetomyselfthatIwoulddietosaveyou。Isavedyouandwekissedandwereparted。AfterwardsItriedtoputyououtofmyheart,knowingthatyouweresetfarabovemeandnomeatforsuchasI,thoughstillforyoursakeIwooednootherwomaninmarriage。Theyearswentbyandfortunebroughtustogetheragain,andlo！theoldlovewasstrongerthanbefore。IknowthatIamnotworthyofyouwhoaresohighandgoodandpure。Still————\"andIstopped,lackingwords。
Shemoveduneasilyandtheredcolourlefthercheeksasthoughshehadbeensuddenlypained。
\"Bethinkyou,\"shesaidwithatouchofhardnessinhervoice,\"canonewholivesthelifeIliveandkeepsmycompany,remainasholyandunstainedasyoubelieve？Ifyouwouldgathersuchalily,surelyyoushouldseekitinacountrygarden,notinthereekofLondon。\"
\"Ineitherknownorcare,\"Ianswered,whosebloodwasallafire。\"I
knowonlythatwhereveryougrowandfromwhateversoil,youaretheflowerIwouldpluck。\"
\"Bethinkyouagain;anuglyslugmighthavesmearedmywhiteness。\"
\"IfsothehonestsunandrainwillrecoverandwashitandIamagardenerwhoscatterslimetoshrivelslugs。\"
\"Iftothisoneyouwillnotlisten,thenhearanotherargument。
PerchanceIdonotloveyou。Wouldyouwinalovelessbride？\"
\"Perchanceyoucanlearnoflove,orifnot,Ihaveenoughtoservefortwo。\"
\"Bymyfaith！itshouldnotbedifficultwithamansohonestandsowellfavoured。Andyet——afurtherplea。MycousinDeleroyhascheatedyou\"（hereherfacehardened）,\"andIthinkIamofferedtoyoubymyfatherinsatisfactionofhishonour,asmenwhohavenogoldofferahouseorahorsetocloseadebt。\"
\"Itisnotso。Iprayedyouofyourfather。Theloss,iflosstherebe,isbutachanceoftrade,suchasIfaceeveryday。Still,IwillbeplainandtellyouthatIriskeditwithopeneyes,expectingnothingless,thatImightcomeneartoyou。\"
Nowshesatherselfdowninachair,coveringherfacewithherhands,andIsawfromthetremblingofherbodythatshewassobbing。WhileI
wonderedwhattodo,forthesightwrungme,sheletfallherhandsandthereweretearsuponherface。
\"ShallItellyouallmystory,yougood,simplegentleman？\"sheasked。
\"Nay,onlytwothings。Areyouthewifeofsomeotherman？\"
\"Notso,thoughperhaps——onceIwentneartoit。Whatistheotherquestion？\"
\"Doyoulovesomeothermansothatyourhearttellsyouitisnotpossiblethatyoushouldeverloveme？\"
\"No,Idonot,\"sheansweredalmostfiercely,\"butbytheRood！Ihateone。\"
\"Whichisnoaffairofmine,\"Isaid,laughing。\"Fortherest,letitsleep。Fewaretheythatknowlife\'swarswhohavenoscartohide,andIamnotoneofthem,thoughintruthyourlipsmadethedeepestyonderbythecaveatHastings。\"
Whensheheardthisshecolouredtoherbrowandforgettinghertears,laughedoutright,whileIwenton:
\"Thereforeletthepastbeandifitisyourwill,letussetoureyesuponthefuture。OnlyonepromisewouldIaskofyou,thatneveragainwillyoubealonewiththelordDeleroy,sinceonesolight—fingeredwithapenwould,Ithink,stealotherthings。\"
\"Bymysoul！thelastthingIdesireistobealonewithmycousinDeleroy。\"
Nowsherosefromthechairandforalittlewhilewestoodfacingeachother。Thensheveryslightlyopenedherarmsandliftedherfacetowardsme。
ThusdidBlancheAleysandIbecomeaffianced,thoughafterwards,whenIthoughtthebusinessover,Irememberedthatneveroncedidshesaythatshewouldmarryme。This,however,troubledmelittle,sinceinsuchmattersitiswhatwomendothatweighs,notwhattheysay。FortherestIwasmadwithloveofher,alsoboththenandasthedayswentby,moreandmoredidsheseemtobetravellingonthissameroadofLove。Ifnot,indeedsheactedwell。
WithinamonthwewerewedonacertainOctoberdayinthechurchofSt。Margaret\'satWestminster。Onceitwasagreedalldesiredtopushonthismarriage,andnotleastBlancheherself。SirRobertAleyssaidthathewishedtobegonefromLondontohisestatesinSussex,havinghadenoughoftheCourtanditsways,desiringtheretolivequietlytilltheend;I,beingsomuchinlove,wasonfireformybride,andBlancheherselfvowedthatshewaseagertobecomemywife,sayingthatourcourtship,whichbeganonHastingsHill,hadlastedlongenough。Fortherest,therewasnothingtocausedelay。IcancelledSirRobert\'sdebttomeandsignedadeedinfavourofhisdaughterandheroffspring,whereofIgaveacopytohislawyerandtherewasnoughtelsetobedoneexcepttopreparemyhouseforherwhich,withmoneyatcommand,waseasy。
Nogreatbusinesswasmadeofthismarriage,sinceneitherhiskinnorSirRoberthimselfwishedtonoiseitaboutthathisonlychild,thelastofhisHouse,wastakingamerchantforherhusbandtosaveherandhimfromwreck。NordidI,themerchant,wishtoprovoketalkamongstthoseofmyownstation,especiallyasitwasknownthatIhadadvancedmoneystothesefinefolksoftheCourt。Soitcameaboutthatfewwereaskedtotheceremonythatwasfixedforanearlyhour,andofthesenotmanycame,becauseonthatday,althoughitwasbutOctober,agreatgalewithstormsofrainbegantoblow,thegreatestindeedthatIhadknowninmylife。
Thusitchancedthatwewerewedinanalmostemptychurchwhilethefiercewind,thunderingagainstthewindows,overcamethefeeblevoiceoftheoldpriest,sothathelookedlikeoneactinginashowwithoutwords。Thedarknesscausedbythethickrainwassodeep,also,thatscarcecouldIseemybride\'slovelyfaceorfindthefingeruponwhichImustsetthering。
AtlengthitwasdoneandwewentdowntheaisletofindourhorseswhereonwemustridetomyhouseinCheapside,wheretherewastobeafeastformydependentsandsuchofmyfewfriendsascaredtocome,amongwhomwerenotnumberedanygrandfolkfromWestminster。AswedrewnearthechurchdoorInotedamongthosewhowerepresentthosetwogaudyladiesbetweenwhomDeleroyhadsatatthatmealafterthebusinessoftheloanwassettled。Moreover,Iheardoneofthemsay:
\"WhatwillDeleroydowhenhecomesbacktofindhisdarlinggone？\"
andtheotheranswerwithahighlaugh:
\"Seekanother,doubtless,orborrowmoremoneyfromthemerchant,and————\"HereIlosttheirtalkintherushofthewindthroughtheopeneddoor。
IntheporchwasoldSirRobertAleys。
\"MotherofGod！\"heshouted,\"maytherestofthelivesofyoutwobesmootherthanyournuptials。NoCheapsidefeastforme,I\'mforhomeinsuchfiend\'sweather。Farewell,sonHubert,andalljoytoyou。
Farewell,Blanche。Learntobeobedientasawifeandkeepyoureyesforyourhusband\'sface,thatismycounseltoyou。TillwemeetagainatChristmastideinSussex,whitherIrideto—morrow,farewelltobothofyou。\"
Farewell,itwasindeed,forneverdideitherofuslookonhimagain。
Wrappedcloseinourcloakswebattledthroughthestormandatlength,somewhatbreathless,reachedmyhouseintheCheapwherethegarlandsofautumnflowersandgreenerythatIhadcausedtobewreathedfrompostsbeforethedoorwerealltornawaybythegale。
HereIwelcomedmywifeasbestIcould,kissingherasshecrossedthethresholdandsayingcertainsweetwordsthatIhadprepared,towhichshesmiledananswer。Thenthewomentookhertoherchambertomakeherselfreadyandafterwardscamethefeast,whichwassumptuousofitssort,thoughtheevilweatherkeptsomeoftheguestsaway。
ScarcelyhaditbegunwhenKari,whooflatehadbeensad—facedandbrooding,andwhodidnoteatwithus,enteredandwhisperedtomethatmyMasterofLadingfromthedocksprayedtoseemeatonceonamatterwhichwouldbrooknodelay。MakingexcusetoBlancheandthecompany,Iwentouttoseehimintheshopandfoundthemanmuchdisturbed。ItseemedthatacertainvesselofminethatIhadrechristened/Blanche/inhonourofmywife,whichlayinthestreamreadytosail,wasingreatdangerbecauseofthetempest。Indeed,shewasdraggingatheranchor,anditwasfearedthatunlessmoreanchorscouldbeletdownshewouldcomeashoreandbewreckedagainstthejetty—headsorotherwise。Thereasonwhythishadnotbeendone,wasthatonlythemasterandonesailorwereonboardthevessel;therestwerefeastingashoreinhonourofmymarriage,andrefusedtorowouttoher,sayingthattheboatwouldbeswampedinthegale。
Nowthisship,althoughnotverylarge,wasthebestandstaunchestthatIowned,beingalmostnew;moreover,thecargoonboardofher,ladenfortheMediterranean,wasofgreatvalue,sogreatindeedthatitslosswouldhavebeenverygrievoustome。Therefore,itwasplainthatImustseetothematterwithoutdelay,sincefrommyservant\'saccounttherewasnohopethattheserebellioussailorswouldlistentoanylessermanthanmyself。So,ifIwouldsavetheshipandhercargo,Imustrideforthedocksatonce。
Goingbacktotheeating—chamber,inafewwordsItoldmywifeandtheguestshowthematterstood,prayingtheoldestmanamongthelattertotakemyplacebythebride,whichhedidunwillingly,mutteringthatthiswasanunluckymarriagefeast。
ThenitwasthatBlancherose,beseechingmeearnestlyandalmostwithtearsthatIwouldtakeherwithmetothedocks。Ilaughedather,asdidthecompany,butstillshebesoughtwithmuchpersistence,tillI
begantobelievethatshemustbeafraidofsomething,thoughtheotherscriedthatitwasbutloveandfearlestIshouldcometoharm。
IntheendImadeherdrinkacupofwinewithme,butherhandshooksomuchthatshespilledthecupandtherichredwinerandownherbreast,stainingthewhitenessofherrobe,whereatsomewomenamongthecompanymurmured,thinkingitabadomen。AtlengthwithakissI
toremyselfaway,forIcouldbidenolongerandthehorseswerewaitingpresently。SoIwasridingforthedocksasfastasthestormwouldsuffer,withtilesfromtheroofs,andwhenwewereclearofthesethetorn—offlimbsoftreeshurtlingroundme。Kari,Ishouldsay,wouldhaveaccompaniedme,butItookaserving—man,biddingKaribidewherehewasinthehouseincasehemightbeofservice。
AtlastwecamesafelytothedockswhereIfoundallasmycargo—
masterhaddescribed。Theship/Blanche/wasingreatperilanddraggingeveryminutetowardsapierheadwhich,ifshestruck,wouldstaveherinandmakeanendofher。Themen,too,werestillfeastingintheinnwiththeirwharfsidetrollops,andsomeofthemhalfdrunk。
Ispoketothem,showingthemtheirshame,andsayingthatiftheywouldnotcome,Iandmymanwouldtakeaboatandgetaboardaloneandthisuponmyweddingday。Thentheyhungtheirheadsandcame。
Wewontotheshipsafelythoughwithmuchtoilanddanger,andtherefoundthemasteralmostcrazedwithfearanddoubtoftheissue,andthemanwithhiminjuredbyafallingblock。Indeed,thispoorcaptainclungtotherail,watchingthecableasitdraggedtheanchorandfearingeverymomentlestitshouldpart。
Therestissoontold。Wegotouttwomoreanchorsanddidotherthingssuchassailorsknow,tohelpinsuchacase。Whenallwasassafeasitcouldbemade,Iandmymanandfoursailorsstartedforthequay,tellingthemasterthatIwouldreturnuponthemorrow。Thewindandcurrentaidingus,welandedsafeandsoundandatonceI
rodebacktoCheapside。
Now,thoughitisshorttotell,allthishadtakenalongwhile,alsothewaywasfartorideinsuchastorm。Thusitcameaboutthatitwasnightoteno\'clockatnightwhen,thankingGod,Idismountedatthegateofmyhouseandbadetheservanttakethehorsestothestable。AsIdrewnearthedoor,itopened,whichastonishedmeand,asthelightwithinshowed,therestoodKari。Whatastonishedmestillmore,hehadthegreatsword,Wave—Flame,inhishand,thoughnotdrawn,whichswordhemusthavefetchedfromwhereitwaskeptwiththeFrenchknight\'sarmourandtheshieldthatborethreearrowsasacognizance。
Layinghisfingeronhislipsheshutthedoorsoftly,thensaidinalowvoice:
\"Master,thereisamanupyonderwiththelady。\"
\"Whatman？\"Iasked。
\"Thatsamelord,Master,whocameherewithheroncebeforetobuyjewelsandborrowgold。Hearken。Thefeastbeingfinishedtheguestswentawayatfallofnight,butthewife—ladywithdrewherselfintothechamberthatiscalledsun—room（thesolar）,thatupthestairs,whichlooksoutonthestreet。Aboutonehourgonetherecameaknockatthedoor。Iwhowaswatching,opened,thinkingitwasyoureturned,andtherestoodthatlord。Hespoketome,saying:
\"\'Moor—man,Iknowthatyourmasterisfromhome,butthattheladyishere。Iwouldspeakwithher。\'
\"NowIwouldhaveturnedhimaway,butatthatmomenttheladyherself,whoitseemedwaswatching,camedownthestairs,lookingverywhite,andsaid:
\"\'Kari,letthelordcomein。Ihavemattersofyourmaster\'sbusinessaboutwhichImusttalkwithhim。\'So,Master,knowingthatyouhadlentmoneytothislord,Iobeyed,thoughIlikeditnot,andhavingfetchedtheswordwhichIthoughtperchancemightbeneeded,I
waited。\"
Thiswasthesubstanceofwhathesaid,thoughhistalkwasmorebrokensinceheneverlearnedtospeakEnglishwellandhelpeditoutwithwordsofhisowntongue,ofwhich,asIhavetold,hehadtaughtmesomething。
\"Idonotunderstand,\"Iexclaimed,whenhehadfinished。\"Doubtlessitislittleornothing。Yetgivemethesword,forwhoknows？andcomewithme。\"
Kariobeyed,andasIwentupthestairsIbuckledWave—Flameaboutme。AlsoKaribroughttwocandlesofItalianwaxlightedupontheirstands。ComingtothedoorofthesolarItriedtoopenit,butitwasbolted。
\"God\'struth！\"Isaid,\"thisisstrange,\"andhammeredonthepanelwithmyfist。
Presentlyitopened,butbeforeenteringit,forIfearedsometrick,Istoodwithoutandlookedin。Theroomwaslitbyahanginglampandafireburnedbrightlyonthehearth,forthenightwascold。InanoakchairbythefireandstaringintoitsatBlanchestillasanystatue。SheglancedroundandsawmeinthelightofthecandlesthatKariheld,andagainstaredintothefire。Half—waybetweenherandthedoorstoodDeleroy,dressedaseverinfineclothes,thoughI
notedthathiscapewasoffandhungoverastoolnearthefireasthoughtodry。Inotedalsothatheworeaswordandadagger。I
enteredtheroom,followedbyKari,shutthedoorbehindmeandshotthebolt。ThenIspoke,asking:
\"Whyareyouherewithmywife,LordDeleroy？\"
\"Itisstrange,Mastermerchant,\"heanswered,\"butIwasabouttoputmuchthesamequestiontoyou:namely,whyis/my/wifeinyourhouse？\"
Now,whileIreeledbeneaththesewords,withoutturningherhead,Blanchebythefiresaid:
\"Helies,Hubert。Iamnothiswife。\"
\"Whyareyouhere,myLordDeleroy？\"Irepeated。
\"Well,ifyouwouldknow,Mastermerchant,Ibringapaperforyou,orratheracopyofit,forthewrititselfwillbeservedonyouto—morrowbytheKing\'sofficers。ItcommitsyoutotheTowerundertheroyalsealfortradingwiththeKing\'senemies,atreasonthatcanbeprovedagainstyou,ofwhichasyouknow,orwillshortlylearn,thepunishmentisdeath,\"andashespokehethrewawritingdownuponasidetable。
\"Iseetheplot,\"Iansweredcoldly。\"TheKing\'sunworthyfavourite,forgerandthief,usestheKing\'sauthoritytotrytobringtheKing\'shonestsubjecttobondsanddeathbyafalseaccusation。Itisacommontrickinthesedays。Butletthatbe。ForthethirdtimeIaskyou——whyareyouherewithmynew—wedwifeandatthishourofthenight？\"
\"Socourteousaquestiondemandsacourteousanswer,Mastermerchant,buttogiveitImusttroubleyoutolistentoatale。\"
\"Thenletitbelikemypatience,brief,\"Ireplied。
\"Itshall,\"hesaidwithamockingbow。
Thenveryclearlyandquietlyhesetoutadreadfulstory,givingdatesandcircumstances。Letthatstorybe。ThesubstanceofitwasthathehadmarriedBlanchesoonaftershereachedwomanhoodandthatshehadbornehimachildwhichdied。