OfMahound’sworking，doubtless，’’saidThomasdeVaux。
ThatIshouldlosemylearnedHakim，’’saidRichard，merelybyabsenceofhiscapandrobe，andthatIshouldfindhimagaininmyroyalbrotherSaladin！’’
Suchisoftthefashionoftheworld，’’answeredtheSoldan；
thetatteredrobemakesnotalwaysthedervish。’’
Anditwasthroughthyintercession，’’saidRichard，thatyonderKnightoftheLeopardwassavedfromdeath-andbythyartificethatherevisitedmycampindisguise？’’
Evenso，’’repliedSaladin；Iwasphysicianenoughtoknow，thatunlessthewoundsofhisbleedinghonourwerestanched，thedaysofhislifemustbefew。HisdisguisewasmoreeasilypenetratedthanIhadexpectedfromthesuccessofmyown。’’
Anaccident，’’saidKingRichardprobablyalludingtothecircumstanceofhisapplyinghislipstothewoundofthesupposedNubian，letmefirstknowthathisskinwasartificiallydiscoloured；andthathintoncetaken，detectionbecameeasy，forhisformandpersonarenottobeforgotten。Iconfidentlyexpectthathewilldobattleonthemorrow。’’
Heisfullinpreparation，andhighinhope，’’saidtheSoldan。Ihavefurnishedhimwithweaponsandhorse，thinkingnoblyofhimfromwhatIhaveseenundervariousdisguises。’’
Knowshenow，’’saidRichard，towhomheliesunderobligation？’’
Hedoth，’’repliedtheSaracen-IwasobligedtoconfessmypersonwhenIunfoldedmypurpose。’’
Andconfessedheaughttoyou？’’saidtheKingofEngland。
Nothingexplicit，’’repliedtheSoldan；butfrommuchthatpassedbetweenus，Iconceivehisloveistohighlyplacedtobehappyinitsissue。’’
Andthouknowest，thathisdaringandinsolentpassioncrossedthineownwishes？’’saidRichard。
Imightguesssomuch，’’saidSaladin；buthispassionhadexistederemywisheshadbeenformed-and，Imustnowadd，islikelytosurvivethem。Icannot，inhonour，revengemeformydisappointmentonhimwhohadnohandinit。Or，ifthishigh-borndamelovedhimbetterthanmyself，whocansaythatshedidnotjusticetoaknightofherownreligion，whoisfullofnobleness？’’
YetoftoomeanlineagetomixwiththebloodofPlantagenet，’’
saidRichard，haughtily。
SuchmaybeyourmaximsinFrangistan，’’repliedtheSoldan。OurpoetsoftheEasterncountriessay，thatavaliantcamel-driverisworthytokissthelipofafairQueen，whenacowardlyprinceisnotworthytosalutethehemofhergarment-Butwithyourpermission，noblebrother，Imusttakeleaveoftheeforthepresent，toreceivetheDukeofAustriaandyonderNazareneknight，muchlessworthyofhospitality，butwhomustyetbesuitablyentreated，notfortheirsakes，butformineownhonour-forwhatsaiththesageLokman？
`Saynotthatthefoodislostuntotheewhichisgiventothestranger-forifhisbodybestrengthenedandfattenedtherewithal，notlessisthineownworshipandgoodnamecherishedandaugmented。’’’
TheSaracenMonarchdepartedfromKingRichard’stent，andhavingindicatedtohim，ratherwithsignsthanwithspeech，wherethepavilionoftheQueenandherattendantswaspitched，hewenttoreceivetheMarquisofMontserratandhisattendants，forwhom，withlessgood-will，butwithequalsplendour，themagnificentSoldanhadprovidedaccommodations。
Themostamplerefreshments，bothintheOrientalandaftertheEuropeanfashion，werespreadbeforetheroyalandprincelyguestsofSaladin，eachintheirownseparatepavilion；
andsoattentivewastheSoldantothehabitsandtasteofhisvisitors，thatGrecianslaveswerestationedtopresentthemwiththegoblet，whichistheabominationofthesectofMohammed。
EreRichardhadfinishedhismeal，theancientOmrah，whohadbroughttheSoldan’slettertotheChristiancamp，enteredwithaplanoftheceremonialtobeobservedonthesucceedingdayofcombat。Richard，whoknewthetasteofhisoldacquaintance，invitedhimtopledgehiminaflagonofwineofSchiraz；butAbdallahgavehimtounderstand，witharuefulaspect，thatself-denial，inthepresentcircumstances，wasamatterinwhichhislifewasconcerned；forthatSaladin，tolerantinmanyrespects，bothobserved，andenforcedbyhighpenalties，thelawsoftheProphet。
Nay，then，’’saidRichard，ifhelovesnotwine，thatlightenerofthehumanheart，hisconversionisnottobehopedfor，andthepredictionofthemadpriestofEngaddigoeslikechaffdownthewind。’’
TheKingthenaddressedhimselftosettlethearticlesofcombat，whichcostaconsiderabletime，asitwasnecessaryonsomepointstoconsultwiththeoppositeparties，aswellaswiththeSoldan。
Theywereatlengthfinallyagreedupon，andadjustedbyaprotocolinFrenchandinArabian，whichwassubscribedbySaladin，asumpireofthefield，andbyRichardandLeopoldasguaranteesforthetwocombatants。AstheOmrahtookhisfinalleaveofKingRichardfortheevening，DeVauxentered。
Thegoodknight，’’hesaid，whoistodobattleto-morrow，requeststoknow，whetherhemaynotto-nightpaydutytohisroyalgodfather？’’
Hastthouseenhim，DeVaux？’’saidtheKing，smiling；
anddidstthouknowanancientacquaintance？’’
ByourLadyofLanercost，’’answeredDeVaux，therearesomanysurprisesandchangesinthisland，thatmypoorbrainturns。IscarceknewSirKennethofScotland，tillhisgoodhound，thathadbeenforashortwhileundermycare，cameandfawnedonme；andeventhenIonlyknewthetykebythedepthofhischest，theroundnessofhisfoot，andhismannerofbaying；forthepoorgaze-houndwaspaintedlikeanyVenetiancourtezan。’’
Thouartbetterskilledinbrutesthanmen，DeVaux，’’saidtheKing。
Iwillnotdeny，’’saidDeVaux，Ihavefoundthemoft-timesthehonesteranimals。Also，yourGraceispleasedtotermmesometimesabrutemyself；besidesthatIservetheLion，whomallmenacknowledgethekingofbrutes。’’
BySaintGeorge，therethoubrokestthelancefairlyonmybrow，’’saidtheKing。Ihaveeversaidthouhastasortofwit，DeVaux-marry，onemuststriketheewithasledge-hammerereitcanbemadetosparkle。Buttothepresentgear-isthegoodknightwellarmedandequipped？’’
Fully，myliege，andnobly，’’answeredDeVaux；Iknowthearmourwell-itisthatwhichtheVenetiancommissaryofferedyourHighness，justereyoubecameill，forfivehundredbezants。’’
AndhehathsoldittotheinfidelSoldan，Iwarrantme，forafewducatsmore，andpresentpayment。TheseVenetianswouldsellthesepulchreitself！’’
Thearmourwillneverbeborneinanoblercause，’’saidDeVaux。
ThankstothenoblenessoftheSaracen，’’saidtheKing，nottotheavariceoftheVenetians。’’
IwouldtoGodyourGracewouldbemorecautious，’’saidtheanxiousDeVaux-Herearewedesertedbyallourallies，forpointsofoffencegiventooneoranother；wecannothopetoprosperupontheland，andwehaveonlytoquarrelwiththeamphibiousrepublic，tolosethemeansofretreatbysea！’’
Iwilltakecare，’’saidRichard，impatiently，butschoolmenomore。Tellmerather，foritisofinterest，haththeknightaconfessor？’’
Hehath，’’answeredDeVaux；thehermitofEngaddi，whoerstdidhimthatofficewhenpreparingfordeath，attendshimonthepresentoccasion；thefameoftheduelhavingbroughthimhither。’’
’Tiswell，’’saidRichard；andnowfortheknight’srequest。
Saytohim，RichardwillreceivehimwhenthedischargeofhisdevoirbesidetheDiamondoftheDesertshallhaveatonedforhisfaultbesidetheMountofSaintGeorge；andasthoupassestthroughthecamp，lettheQueenknowIwillvisitherpavilion-andtellBlondeltomeetmethere。’’
DeVauxdeparted，andinaboutanhourafterwards，Richard，wrappinghismantlearoundhim，andtakinghisghitterninhishand，walkedinthedirectionoftheQueen’spavilion。
SeveralArabspassedhim，butalwayswithavertedheads，andlooksfixedupontheearth，thoughhecouldobservethatallgazedearnestlyafterhimwhenhewaspast。Thisledhimjustlytoconjecturethathispersonwasknowntothem；butthateithertheSoldan’scommands，ortheirownOrientalpoliteness，forbadethemtoseemtonoticeasovereignwhodesiredtoremainincognito。
WhentheKingreachedthepavilionofhisQueen，hefounditguardedbythoseunhappyofficialswhomEasternjealousyplacesaroundthezenana。Blondelwaswalkingbeforethedoor，andtouchedhisrotefromtimetotime，inamannerwhichmadetheAfricansshowtheirivoryteeth，andbearburdenwiththeirstrangegesturesandshrillunnaturalvoices。
Whatartthouafterwiththisherdofblackcattle，Blondel？’’
saidtheKing；whereforegoestthounotintothetent？’’
Becausemytradecanneithersparetheheadnorthefingers，’’
saidBlondel；andthesehonestblackamoorsthreatenedtocutmejointfromjointifIpressedforward。’’
Well，enterwithme，’’saidtheKing，andIwillbethysafeguard。’’
TheblacksaccordinglyloweredpikesandswordstoKingRichard，andbenttheireyesontheground，asifunworthytolookuponhim。IntheinteriorofthepaviliontheyfoundThomasdeVauxinattendanceontheQueen。WhileBerengariawelcomedBlondel，KingRichardspokeforsometimesecretlyandapartwithhisfairkinswoman。
Atlength，Arewestillfoes，myfairEdith？’’hesaid，inawhisper。
No，myliege，’’saidEdith，inavoicejustsolow，asnottointerruptthemusic-nonecanbearenmityagainstKingRichard，whenhedeignstoshowhimself，ashereallyis，generousandnoble，aswellasvaliantandhonourable。’’
Sosaying，sheextendedherhandtohim。TheKingkisseditintokenofreconciliation，andthenproceeded。
Youthink，mysweetcousin，thatmyangerinthismatterwasfeigned；butyouaredeceived。ThepunishmentIinflicteduponthisknightwasjust；forhehadbetrayed-nomatterforhowtemptingabribe，faircousin-thetrustcommittedtohim。
ButIrejoice，perchanceasmuchasyou，thatto-morrowgiveshimachancetowinthefield，andthrowbackthestainwhichforatimeclungtohim，upontheactualthiefandtraitor。No！-
futuretimesmayblameRichardforimpetuousfolly；buttheyshallsay，thatinrenderingjudgment，hewasjustwhenheshould，andmercifulwhenhecould。’’
Laudnotthyself，cousinKing，’’saidEdith。Theymaycallthyjusticecruelty-thymercycaprice。’’
Anddonotthoupridethyself，’’saidtheKing，asifthyknight，whohathnotyetbuckledonhisarmour，wereunbeltingitintriumph-ConradeofMontserratisheldagoodlance。
WhatiftheScotshouldlosetheday？’’
Itisimpossible！’’saidEdith，firmly-MyowneyessawyonderConradetrembleandchangecolour，likeabasethief。
Heisguilty-andthetrialbycombatisanappealtothejusticeofGod-Imyself，insuchacause，wouldencounterhimwithoutfear。’’
Bythemass，Ithinkthouwouldst，wench，’’saidtheKing，andbeathimtoboot；forthereneverbreathedatruerPlantagenetthanthou。’’
Hepaused，andaddedinaveryserioustone，-Seethatthoucontinuetorememberwhatisduetothybirth。’’
Whatmeansthatadvice，soseriouslygivenatthismoment？’’
saidEdith。AmIofsuchlightnatureastoforgetmyname-mycondition？’’
Iwillspeakplainly，Edith，’’answeredtheKing，andastoafriend，-Whatwillthisknightbetoyou，shouldhecomeoffvictorfromyonderlists？’’
To_me？_’’saidEdith，blushingdeepwithshameanddispleasure，-What_can_hebetomemorethananhonouredknight，worthyofsuchgraceasQueenBerengariamightconferonhim，hadheselectedherforhislady，insteadofamoreunworthychoice？Themeanestknightmaydevotehimselftotheserviceofanempress，butthegloryofhischoice，’’shesaidproudly，mustbehisreward。’’
Yethehathservedandsufferedmuchforyou，’’saidtheKing。
Ihavepaidhisserviceswithhonourandapplause，andhissufferingswithtears，’’answeredEdith。Hadhedesiredotherreward，hewouldhavedonewiselytohavebestowedhisaffectionswithinhisowndegree。’’
Youwouldnotthenwearthebloodynight-gearforhissake？’’
saidKingRichard。