AndIalsomayguess，’’saidtheKing，frowningsternly；
butitisenough。Leopardasyouare，SirKnight，bewaretemptingthelion’spaw。Harkye-tobecomeenamouredofthemoonwouldbebutanactoffolly；buttoleapfromthebattlementsofaloftytower，inthewildhopeofcomingwithinhersphere，wereself-destructivemadness。’’
Atthismomentsomebustlingwasheardintheouterapartment，andtheKing，hastilychangingtohismorenaturalmanner，said，Enough-begone-speedtoDeVaux，andsendhimhitherwiththeArabianphysician。MylifeforthefaithoftheSoldan！
Wouldhebutabjurehisfalselaw，IwouldaidhimwithmyswordtodrivethisscumofFrenchandAustriansfromhisdominions，andthinkPalestineaswellruledbyhimaswhenherkingswereanointedbythedecreeofHeavenitself。’’
TheKnightoftheLeopardretired，andpresentlyafterwardsthechamberlainannouncedadeputationfromtheCouncil，whohadcometowaitontheMajestyofEngland。
ItiswelltheyallowthatIamlivingyet，’’washisreply。
Whoarethereverendambassadors？’’
TheGrandMasteroftheTemplars，andtheMarquisofMontserrat。’’
OurbrotherofFrancelovesnotsick-beds，’’saidRichard；
yet，hadPhilipbeenill，Ihadstoodbyhiscouchlongsince-
Jocelyn，laymethecouchmorefairly，itistumbledlikeastormysea-reachmeyondersteelmirror-passacombthroughmyhairandbeard。Theylook，indeed，likeralion’smanethanaChristianman’slocks-bringwater。’’
Mylord，’’saidthetremblingchamberlain，theleechessaythatcoldwatermaybefatal。’’
Tothefoulfiendwiththeleeches！’’repliedthemonarch；
iftheycannotcureme，thinkyouIwillallowthemtotormentme？-There，then’’-hesaid，afterhavingmadehisablutions，admittheworshipfulenvoys；theywillnow，Ithink，scarcelyseethatdiseasehasmadeRichardnegligentofhisperson。’’
ThecelebratedMasteroftheTemplarswasatall，thin，war-wornman，withaslowyetpenetratingeye，andabrowonwhichathousanddarkintrigueshadstampedaportionoftheirobscurity。
Attheheadofthatsingularbody，towhomtheirorderwaseverything，andtheirindividualitynothing-seekingtheadvancementofitspower，evenatthehazardofthatveryreligionwhichthefraternitywereoriginallyassociatedtoprotect-accusedofheresyandwitchcraft，althoughbytheircharacterChristianpriests-suspectedofsecretleaguewiththeSoldan，thoughbyoathdevotedtotheprotectionoftheHolyTemple，oritsrecovery-thewholeorder，andthewholepersonalcharacterofitscommander，orGrandMaster，wasariddle，attheexpositionofwhichmostmenshuddered。TheGrandMasterwasdressedinhiswhiterobesofsolemnity，andhebarethe_abacus，_amysticstaffofoffice，thepeculiarformofwhichhasgivenrisetosuchsingularconjecturesandcommentaries，leadingtosuspicionsthatthiscelebratedfraternityofChristianknightswereembodiedunderthefoulestsymbolsofPaganism。
ConradeofMontserrathadamuchmorepleasingexteriorthanthedarkandmysteriouspriest-soldierbywhomhewasaccompanied。
Hewasahandsomeman，ofmiddleage，orsomethingpastthatterm，boldinthefield，sagaciousincouncil，gayandgallantintimesoffestivity；but，ontheotherhand，hewasgenerallyaccusedofversatility，ofanarrowandselfishambition，ofadesiretoextendhisownprincipality，withoutregardtothewealoftheLatinKingdomofPalestine，andofseekinghisowninterest，byprivatenegotiationswithSaladin，totheprejudiceoftheChristianleaguers。
Whentheusualsalutationshadbeenmadebythesedignitaries，andcourteouslyreturnedbyKingRichard，theMarquisofMontserratcommencedanexplanationofthemotivesoftheirvisit，sent，ashesaidtheywere，bytheanxiousKingsandPrinceswhocomposedtheCounciloftheCrusaders，toinquireintothehealthoftheirmagnanimousally，thevaliantKingofEngland。’’
WeknowtheimportanceinwhichthePrincesoftheCouncilholdourhealth，’’repliedtheEnglishKing；andarewellawarehowmuchtheymusthavesufferedbysuppressingallcuriosityconcerningitforfourteendays，forfear，doubtless，ofaggravatingourdisorder，byshowingtheiranxietyregardingtheevent。’’
TheflowoftheMarquis’seloquencebeingchecked，andhehimselfthrownintosomeconfusionbythisreply，hismoreausterecompaniontookupthethreadoftheconversation，and，withasmuchdryandbriefgravityaswasconsistentwiththepresencewhichheaddressed，informedtheKingthattheycamefromtheCounciltopray，inthenameofChristendom，thathewouldnotsufferhishealthtobetamperedwithbyaninfidelphysician，saidtobedespatchedbySaladin，untiltheCouncilhadtakenmeasurestoremoveorconfirmthesuspicionwhichtheyatpresentconceiveddidattachitselftothemissionofsuchaperson。’’
GrandMasteroftheHolyandValiantOrderofKnightsTemplars，andyou，MostNobleMarquisofMontserrat，’’repliedRichard，ifitpleaseyoutoretireintotheadjoiningpavilion，youshallpresentlyseewhataccountwemakeofthetenderremonstrancesofourroyalandprincelycolleaguesinthismostreligiouswarfare。’’
TheMarquisandGrandMasterretiredaccordingly；norhadtheybeenmanyminutesintheoutwardpavilionwhentheEasternphysicianarrived，accompaniedbytheBaronofGilslandandKennethofScotland。Thebaron，however，wasalittlelaterofenteringthetentthantheothertwo，stopping，perchance，toissuesomeorderstothewarderswithout。
AstheArabianphysicianentered，hemadehisobeisance，aftertheOrientalfashion，totheMarquisandGrandMaster，whosedignitywasapparent，bothfromtheirappearanceandtheirbearing。TheGrandMasterreturnedthesalutationwithanexpressionofdisdainfulcoldness，theMarquis，withthepopularcourtesywhichhehabituallypractisedtomenofeveryrankandnation。Therewasapause；fortheScottishknight，waitingforthearrivalofDeVaux，presumednot，ofhisownauthority，toenterthetentoftheKingofEngland，and，duringthisinterval，theGrandMastersternlydemandedoftheMoslem，-Infidel，hastthouthecouragetopractisethineartuponthepersonofananointedsovereignoftheChristianhost？’’
ThesunofAllah，’’answeredthesage，shinesontheNazareneaswellasonthetruebeliever，andhisservantdaremakenodistinctionbetwixtthemwhencalledontoexercisehisartofhealing。’’
MisbelievingHakim，’’saidtheGrandMaster，orwhatsoevertheycalltheeforanunbaptizedslaveofdarkness，dostthouwellknow，thatthoushaltbetornasunderbywildhorsesshouldKingRicharddieunderthycharge？’’
Thatwerehardjustice，’’answeredthephysician；seeingthatIcanbutusehumanmeans，andthattheissueiswritteninthebookoflight。’’
Nay，reverendandvaliantGrandMaster，’’saidtheMarquisofMontserrat，considerthatthislearnedmanisnotacquaintedwithourChristianorder，adoptedinthefearofGod，andforthesafetyofhisanointed-Beitknownuntothee，gravephysician，whoseskillwedoubtnot，thatyourwisestcourseistorepairtothepresenceoftheillustriousCouncilofourHolyLeague，andtheretogiveaccountandreckoningtosuchwiseandlearnedleechesastheyshallnominate，concerningyourmeansofprocessandcureofthisillustriouspatient；soshallyouescapeallthedanger，which，rashlytakingsuchahighmatteruponyoursoleanswer，youmayelsemostlikelyincur。’’
Mylords，’’saidElHakim，Iunderstandyouwell。Butknowledgehathitschampionsaswellasyourmilitaryart，nay，hathsometimeshaditsmartyrsaswellasreligion。Ihavethecommandofmysovereign，theSoldanSaladin，tohealthisNazareneKing，and，withtheblessingoftheProphet，Iwillobeyhiscommands。IfIfail，yewearswordsthirstingforthebloodofthefaithful，andIproffermybodytoyourweapons。
ButIwillnotreasonwithoneuncircumciseduponthevirtueofthemedicinesofwhichIhaveobtainedknowledge，throughthegraceoftheProphet，andIprayyouinterposenodelaybetweenmeandmyoffice。’’
Whotalksofdelay？’’saidtheBarondeVaux，hastilyenteringthetent；wehavehadbuttoomuchalready-Isaluteyou，myLordofMontserrat，andyou，valiantGrandMaster。ButImustpresentlypasswiththislearnedphysiciantothebedsideofmymaster。’’
Mylord，’’saidtheMarquis，inNormanFrench，orthelanguageofOuie，asitwasthencalled，areyouwelladvisedthatwecametoexpostulateonthepartoftheCounciloftheMonarchsandPrincesoftheCrusade，againsttheriskofpermittinganinfidelandEasternphysiciantotamperwithahealthsovaluableasthatofyourmasterKingRichard？’’
NobleLordMarquis，’’repliedtheEnglishman，bluntly，Icanneitherusemanywords，nordoIdelightinlisteningtothem-moreover，Iammuchmorereadytobelievewhatmyeyeshaveseen，thanwhatmyearshaveheard。IamsatisfiedthatthisheathencancurethesicknessofKingRichard，andI
believeandtrusthewilllabourtodoso。Timeisprecious。
IfMahommed-mayGod’scursebeonhim！-stoodatthedoorofthetent，withsuchfairpurposeasthisAdonbecelHakimentertains，Iwouldholditsintodelayhimforaminute-
So，giveyeGod’en，mylords。’’
Nay，but，’’saidConradeofMontserrat，theKinghimselfsaidweshouldbepresentwhenthissamephysiciandealtuponhim。’’
Thebaronwhisperedthechamberlain，probablytoknowwhethertheMarquisspoketruly，andthenreplied，Mylords，ifyouwillholdyourpatience，youarewelcometoenterwithus；butifyouinterrupt，byactionorthreat，thisaccomplishedphysicianinhisduty，beitknown，that，withoutrespecttoyourhighquality，IwillenforceyourabsencefromRichard’stent；forknow，Iamsowellsatisfiedwiththevirtue，ofthisman’smedicines，thatwereRichardhimselftorefusethem，byOurLadyofLanercost，IthinkIcouldfindinmyhearttoforcehimtotakethemeansofhiscurewhetherhewouldorno-
Moveonward，ElHakim。’’
ThelastwordwasspokenintheLinguaFranca，andinstantlyobeyedbythephysician。TheGrandMasterlookedgrimlyontheunceremoniousoldsoldier，but，onexchangingaglancewiththeMarquis，smoothedhisfrowningbrowaswellashecould，andbothfollowedDeVauxandtheArabianintotheinnertent，whereRichardlayexpectingthem，withthatimpatiencewithwhichthesickpatientwatchesthestepofhisphysician。SirKenneth，whoseattendanceseemedneitheraskednorprohibited，felthimself，bythecircumstancesinwhichhestood，entitledtofollowthesehighdignitaries，but，consciousofhisinferiorpowerandrank，remainedaloofduringthescenewhichtookplace。
Richard，whentheyenteredhisapartment，immediatelyexclaimed，Soho！agoodlyfellowshipcometoseeRichardtakehisleapinthedark-Mynobleallies，Igreetyouastherepresentativesofourassembledleague；Richardwillagainbeamongstyouinhisformerfashion，oryeshallbeartothegravewhatisleftofhim-DeVaux，livesheordieshe，thouhastthethanksofthyprince-Thereisyetanother-butthisfeverhathwastedmyeyesight-what，theboldScot，whowouldclimbHeavenwithoutaladder？-heiswelcometoo-Come，SirHakim，tothework，tothework。’’
Thephysician，whohadalreadyinformedhimselfofthevarioussymptomsoftheKing’sillness，nowfelthispulseforalongtime，andwithdeepattention，whileallaroundstoodsilent，andinbreathlessexpectation。Thesagenextfilledacupwithspringwater，anddiptintoitthesmallredpurse，Which，asformerly，hetookfromhisbosom。Whenheseemedtothinkitsufficientlymedicated，hewasabouttoofferittothesovereign，whopreventedhim，bysaying，Holdaninstant-Thouhastfeltmypulse-letmelaymyfingeronthine-Itoo，asbecomesagoodknight，knowsomethingofthineart。’’
TheArabianyieldedhishandwithouthesitation，andhislongslenderdarkfingerswere，foraninstant，enclosed，andalmostburied，inthelargeenfoldmentofKingRichard’shand。
Hisbloodbeatscalmasaninfant’s，’’saidtheKing；sothrobnottheirswhopoisonprinces。DeVaux，whetherweliveordie，dismissthisHakimwithhonourandsafety-Commendus，friend，tothenobleSaladin。ShouldIdie，itiswithoutdoubtofhisfaith-shouldIlive，itwillbetothankhimasawarriorwoulddesiretobethanked。’’
Hethenraisedhimselfinbed，tookthecupinhishand，and，turningtotheMarquisandtheGrandMaster，-MarkwhatIsay，andletmyroyalbrethrenpledgemeinCypruswine，-
`TotheimmortalhonourofthefirstCrusader，whoshallstrikelanceorswordonthegateofJerusalem；andtotheshameandeternalinfamyofwhomsoevershallturnbackfromtheploughonwhichhehathlaidhishand！’’’
Hedrainedthecuptothebottom，resignedittotheArabian，andsunkback，asifexhausted，uponthecushionswhichwerearrangedtoreceivehim。Thephysician，then，withsilentbutexpressivesigns，directedthatallshouldleavethetent，exceptinghimselfandDeVaux，whomnoremonstrancecouldinducetowithdraw。Theapartmentwasclearedaccordingly。