Peace，Iprithee-makenomoreofit-Ididitbuttoshowtheseignorantprejudicedknaveshowtheymighthelpeachotherwhenthesecowardlycaitiffscomeagainstuswithsarbacanesandpoisonedshafts-But，’’headded，taketheethisNubiantothyquarters，Neville-Ihavechangedmymindtouchinghim-lethimbewellcaredfor-But，harkinthineear-seethatheescapestheenot-thereismoreinhimthanseems。Lethimhaveallliberty，sothatheleavenotthecamp-Andyou，yebeef-devouring，wine-swillingEnglishmastiffs，getyetoyourguardagain，andbesureyoukeepitmorewarily。Thinknotyouarenowinyourownlandoffairplay，wheremenspeakbeforetheystrike，andshakehandseretheycutthroats。Dangerinourlandwalksopenly，andwithhisbladedrawn，anddefiesthefoewhomhemeanstoassault；buthere，hechallengesyouwithasilkgloveinsteadofasteelgauntlet，cutsyourthroatwiththefeatherofaturtle-dove，stabsyouwiththetongueofapriest’sbrooch，orthrottlesyouwiththelaceofmylady’sboddice。Goto-keepyoureyesopenandyourmouthsshut-drinklessandlooksharperaboutyou；orIwillplaceyourhugestomachsonsuchshortallowance，aswouldpinchthatofapatientScotchman。’’
Theyeomen，abashedandmortified，withdrewtotheirpost，andNevillewasbeginningtoremonstratewithhismasterupontheriskofpassingoverthusslightlytheirnegligenceupontheirduty，andtheproprietyofanexampleinacasesopeculiarlyaggravatedasthepermittingonesosuspiciousasthemarabouttoapproachwithindagger’slengthofhisperson，whenRichardinterruptedhimwith，Speaknotofit，Neville-wouldstthouhavemeavengeapettyrisktomyselfmoreseverelythanthelossofEngland’sbanner？Ithasbeenstolen-stolenbyathief，ordeliveredupbyatraitor，andnobloodhasbeenshedforit-
Mysablefriend，thouartanexpounderofmysteries，saiththeillustriousSoldan-nowwouldIgivetheethineownweightingoldif，byraisingonestillblackerthanthyself，orbywhatothermeansthouwilt，thoucouldstshowmethethiefwhodidminehonourthatwrong。Whatsay’stthou？ha！’’
Theyouthseemeddesiroustospeak，bututteredonlythatimperfectsoundpropertohismelancholycondition，thenfoldedhisarms，lookedontheKingwithaneyeofintelligence，andnoddedinanswertohisquestion。
How！’’saidRichard，withjoyfulimpatience。Wiltthouundertaketomakediscoveryinthismatter？’’
TheNubianslaverepeatedthesamemotion。
Buthowshallweunderstandeachother？’’saidtheKing。
Canstthouwrite，goodfellow？’’
Theslaveagainnoddedinassent。
Givehimwriting-tools，’’saidtheKing。Theywerereadierinmyfather’stentthanmine-buttheybesomewhereabout，ifthisscorchingclimatehathnotdrieduptheink-Why，thisfellowisajewel-ablackdiamond，Neville。’’
Sopleaseyou，myliege，’’saidNeville，ifImightspeakmypoormind，itwereilldealinginthisware。Thismanmustbeawizard，andwizardsdealwiththeEnemy，whohathmostinteresttosowtaresamongthewheat，andbringdissensionintoourcouncils，and’’-
Peace，Neville，’’saidRichard。Hollotoyournorthernhoundwhenheiscloseonthehaunchofthedeer，andhopetorecallhim，butseeknottostopPlantagenetwhenhehathhopetoretrievehishonour。’’
Theslave，whoduringthisdiscussionhadbeenwriting，inwhichartheseemedskilful，nowarose，andpressingwhathehadwrittentohisbrow，prostratedhimselfasusual，erehedelivereditintotheKing’shands。ThescrollwasinFrench，althoughtheirintercoursehadhithertobeenconductedbyRichardintheLinguaFranca。
ToRichard，theconqueringandinvincibleKingofEngland，thisfromthehumblestofhisslaves。MysteriesarethesealedcasketsofHeaven，butwisdommaydevisemeanstoopenthelock。WereyourslavestationedwheretheleadersoftheChristianhostweremadetopassbeforehiminorder，doubtnothing，thatifhewhodidtheinjurywhereofmyKingcomplainsshallbeamongthenumber，hemaybemademanifestinhisiniquity，thoughitbehiddenundersevenveils。’’
Now，bySaintGeorge！’’saidKingRichard，thouhastspokenmostopportunely-Neville，thouknow’st，thatwhenwemusterourtroopsto-morrow，theprinceshaveagreed，thattoexpiatetheaffrontofferedtoEnglandinthetheftofherBanner，theleadersshouldpassournewstandardasitfloatsonSaintGeorge’sMount，andsaluteitwithformalregard。
Believeme，thesecrettraitorwillnotdaretoabsenthimselffromanexpurgationsosolemn，lesthisveryabsenceshouldbematterofsuspicion。Therewillweplaceoursablemanofcounsel，and，ifhisartcandetectthevillain，leavemetodealwithhim。’’
Myliege，’’saidNeville，withthefranknessofanEnglishbaron，bewarewhatworkyoubegin。Hereistheconcordofourholyleagueunexpectedlyrenewed-willyou，uponsuchsuspicionasanegroslavecaninstil，tearopenwoundssolatelyclosed-orwillyouusethesolemnprocession，adoptedforthereparationofyourhonour，andestablishmentofunanimityamongstthediscordingprinces，asthemeansofagainfindingoutnewcauseofoffence，orrevivingancientquarrels？Itwerescarcetoostrongtosay，thiswereabreachofthedeclarationyourGracemadetotheassembledCounciloftheCrusade。’’
Neville，’’saidtheKing，sternlyinterruptinghim，thyzealmakestheepresumptuousandunmannerly。NeverdidI
promisetoabstainfromtakingwhatevermeansweremostpromising，todiscovertheinfamousauthoroftheattackonmyhonour。EreIhaddoneso，Iwouldhaverenouncedmykingdom-
mylife。Allmydeclarationswereunderthisnecessaryandabsolutequalification；-only，ifAustriahadsteppedforthandownedtheinjurylikeaman，Iproffered，forthesakeofChristendom，tohaveforgiven_him。_’’
But，’’continuedthebaron，anxiously，whathopethatthisjugglingslaveofSaladinwillnotpalterwithyourGrace？’’
Peace，Neville，’’saidtheKing；thouthink’stthyselfmightywise，andartbutafool。Mindthoumychargetouchingthisfellow-thereismoreinhimthanthyWestmorelandwitcanfathom-Andthou，swartandsilent，preparetoperformthefeatthouhastpromised，and，bythewordofaKing，thoushaltchoosethineownrecompense-Lo，hewritesagain。’’
ThemuteaccordinglywroteanddeliveredtotheKing，withthesameformasbefore，anotherslipofpaper，containingthesewords-ThewilloftheKingisthelawtohisslave-nordothitbecomehimtoaskguerdonfordischargeofhisdevoir。’’
_Guerdon_and_devoir！_’’saidtheKing，interruptinghimselfasheread，andspeakingtoNevilleintheEnglishtonguewithsomeemphasisonthewords，-TheseEasternpeoplewillprofitbytheCrusaders-theyareacquiringthelanguageofchivalry！-
Andsee，Neville，howdiscomposedthatfellowlooks-wereitnotforhiscolour，hewouldblush。IshouldnotthinkitstrangeifheunderstoodwhatIsay-theyareperilouslinguists。’’
ThepoorslavecannotendureyourGrace’seye，’’saidNeville；
itisnothingmore。’’
Well，but，’’continuedtheKing，strikingthepaperwithhisfinger，asheproceeded，thisboldscrollproceedstosay，thatourtrustymuteischargedwithamessagefromSaladintotheLadyEdithPlantagenet，andcravesmeansandopportunitytodeliverit。Whatthink’stthouofarequestsomodest-ha！
Neville？’’
Icannotsay，’’saidNeville，howsuchfreedommayrelishwithyourGrace；buttheleaseofthemessenger’sneckwouldbeashortone，whoshouldcarrysucharequesttotheSoldanonthepartofyourMajesty。’’
Nay，IthankHeaventhatIcovetnoneofhissunburntbeauties，’’saidRichard；andforpunishingthisfellowfordischarginghismaster’serrand，andthatwhenhehasjustsavedmylife-methinksitweresomethingtoosummary。I’lltellthee，Neville，asecret-for，althoughoursableandmuteministerbepresent，hecannot，thouknow’st，tellitoveragain，evenifheshouldchancetounderstandus-Itellthee，thatforthisfortnightpast，Ihavebeenunderastrangespell，andI
wouldIweredisenchanted。Therehasnosooneranyonedonemegoodservice，butloyou，hecancelshisinterestinmebysomedeepinjury；and，ontheotherhand，hewhohathdeserveddeathatmyhandsforsometreacheryorsomeinsult，issuretobetheveryperson，ofallothers，whoconfersuponmesomeobligationthatoverbalanceshisdemerits，andrendersrespiteofhissentenceadebtduefrommyhonour。Thus，thouseest，Iamdeprivedofthebestpartofmyroyalfunction，sinceIcanneitherpunishmennorrewardthem。Untiltheinfluenceofthisdisqualifyingplanetbepassedaway，Iwillsaynothingconcerningtherequestofthisoursableattendant，savethatitisanunusuallyboldone，andthathisbestchanceoffindinggraceinoureyeswillbe，toendeavourtomakethediscoverywhichheproposestoachieveinourbehalf。Meanwhile，Neville，dothoulookwelltohim，andlethimbehonourablycaredfor-
Andharktheeoncemore，’’hesaid，inalowwhisper，seekoutyonderhermitofEngaddi，andbringhimtomeforthwith，behesaintorsavage，madmanorsane。Letmeseehimprivately。’’
Nevilleretiredfromtheroyaltent，signingtotheNubiantofollowhim，andmuchsurprisedatwhathehadseenandheard，andespeciallyattheunusualdemeanouroftheKing。Ingeneral，notaskwassoeasyastodiscoverRichard’simmediatecourseofsentimentandfeeling，thoughitmight，insomecases，bedifficulttocalculateitsduration；fornoweathercockobeyedthechangingwindmorereadily，thantheKinghisgustsofpassion。
But，onthepresentoccasion，hismannerseemedunusuallyconstrainedandmysterious，norwasiteasytoguesswhetherdispleasureorkindnesspredominatedinhisconducttowardshisnewdependent，orinthelookswithwhich，fromtimetotime，heregardedhim。ThereadyservicewhichtheKinghadrenderedtocounteractthebadeffectsoftheNubian’swound，might，seemtobalancetheobligationconferredonhimbytheslave，whenheinterceptedtheblowoftheassassin；butitseemed，asamuchlongeraccountremainedtobearrangedbetweenthem，thattheMonarchwasdoubtfulwhetherthesettlementmightleavehim，uponthewhole，debtororcreditor，andthat，therefore，heassumed，inthemeantime，aneutraldemeanour，whichmightsuitwitheithercharacter。AsfortheNubian，bywhatevermeanshehadacquiredtheartofwritingtheEuropeanlanguages，theKingremainedconvincedthattheEnglishtongueatleastwasunknowntohim，since，havingwatchedhimcloselyduringthelastpartoftheinterview，heconceiveditimpossibleforanyoneunderstandingaconversation，ofwhichhewashimselfthesubject，tohavesocompletelyavoidedtheappearanceoftakinganinterestinit。
Who’sthere？-Approach-’tiskindlydone-
Mylearn’dphysicianandafriend。
SirEustaceGrey。
Ournarrativeretrogradestoaperiodshortlyprevioustotheincidentslastmentioned，when，asthereadermustremember，theunfortunateKnightoftheLeopard，bestowedupontheArabianphysicianbyKingRichard，ratherasaslavethaninanyothercapacity，wasexiledfromthecampoftheCrusaders，inwhoserankshehadsooftenandsobrilliantlydistinguishedhimself。Hefollowedhisnewmaster，forsowemustnowtermtheHakim，totheMoorishtentswhichcontainedhisretinueandhisproperty，withthestupidfeelingsofone，who，fallenfromthesummitofaprecipice，andescapingunexpectedlywithlife，isjustabletodraghimselffromthefatalspot，butwithoutthepowerofestimatingtheextentofthedamagewhichhehassustained。
Arrivedatthetent，hethrewhimself，withoutspeechofanykind，uponacouchofdressedbuffalo’shide，whichwaspointedouttohimbyhisconductor，andhidinghisfacebetwixthishands，groanedheavily，asifhisheartwasonthepointofbursting。Thephysicianheardhim，ashewasgivingorderstohisnumerousdomesticstopreparefortheirdeparturethenextmorningbeforedaybreak，andmovedwithcompassion，interruptedhisoccupation，tositdowncross-legged，bythesideofhiscouch，andadministercomfortaccordingtotheOrientalmanner。
Myfriend，’’hesaid，beofgoodcomfort-forwhatsayeththepoet-`Itisbetterthatamanshouldbetheservantofakindmaster，thanbetheslaveofhisownwildpassions。’Again，beofgoodcourage；because，whereasYsoufBenYagoubewassoldtoaKingbyhisbrethren，eventoPharaohKingofEgypt，thyKinghath，ontheotherhand，bestowedtheeononewhowillbetotheeasabrother。’’
SirKennethmadeanefforttothanktheHakim，buthisheartwastoofull，andtheindistinctsoundswhichaccompaniedhisabortiveattemptstoreply，inducedthekindphysiciantodesistfromhisprematureendeavoursatconsolation。Helefthisnewdomestic，orguest，inquiet，toindulgehissorrows，andhavingcommandedallthenecessarypreparationsfortheirdepartureonthemorning，satdownuponthecarpetofthetent，andindulgedhimselfinamoderaterepast。Afterhehadthusrefreshedhimself，similarviandswereofferedtotheScottishKnight；butthoughtheslaveslethimunderstandthatthenextdaywouldbefaradvancederetheywouldhaltforthepurposeofrefreshment，SirKennethcouldnotovercomethedisgustwhichhefeltagainstswallowinganynourishment，andcouldbeprevailedupontotastenothing，savingadraughtofcoldwater。