第32章 The Christmas Feast at Steeple(5)

"Sir Andrew," he said, "hearken to me, I pray you.Noble was that act," and he pointed to the wounded man being dragged away by his fellows, "and noble has been your defence--well worthy of your lineage and your knighthood.It is a tale that my master," and he bowed as he said the word, "will love to hear if it pleases Allah that we return to him in safety.Also you will think that I have played a knave's trick upon you, overcoming the might of those gallant knights, Sir Godwin and Sir Wulf, not with sword blows but with drugged wine, and treating all your servants in like fashion, since not one of them can shake off its fumes before to-morrow's light.So indeed it is--a very scurvy trick which Ishall remember with shame to my life's end, and that perchance may yet fall back upon my head in blood and vengeance.Yet bethink you how we stand, and forgive us.We are but a little company of men in your great country, hidden, as it were, in a den of lions, who, if they saw us, would slay us without mercy.

That, indeed, is a small thing, for what are our lives, of which your sword has taken tithe, and not only yours, but those of the twin brethren on the quay by the water?""I thought it," broke in Sir Andrew contemptuously."Indeed, that deed was worthy of you--twenty or more men against two."Georgios held up his hand.

"Judge us not harshly," he said, speaking slowly, who, for his own ends wished to gain time, "you who have read the letter of our lord.See you, these were my commands: To secure the lady Rose of the World as best I might, but if possible without bloodshed.Now I was reconnoitring the country with a troop of the sailors from my ship who are but poor fighters, and a few of my own people, when my spies brought me word that she had ridden out attended by only two men, and surely I thought that already she was in my hands.But the knights foiled me by strategy and strength, and you know the end of it.So afterwards my messenger presented the letter, which, indeed, should have been done at first.The letter failed also, for neither you, nor the Princess"--and he bowed to Rosamund--"could be bought.More, the whole country was awakened; you were surrounded with armed men, the knightly brethren kept watch and ward over you, and you were about to fly to London, where it would have been hard to snare you.Therefore, because I must, I--who am a prince and an emir, who also, although you remember it not, have crossed swords with you in my youth; yes, at Harenc--became a dealer in drugged wine.

"Now hearken.Yield you, Sir Andrew, who have done enough to make your name a song for generations, and accept the love of Salah-ed-din, whose word you have, the word that, as you know well, cannot be broken, which I, the lord El-Hassan--for no meaner man has been sent upon this errand--plight to you afresh.

Yield you, and save your life, and live on in honour, clinging to your own faith, till Azrael takes you from the pleasant fields of Baalbec to the waters of Paradise-- if such there be for infidels, however gallant.

"For know, this deed must be done.Did we return without the princess Rose of the World, we should die, every one of us, and did we offer her harm or insult, then more horribly than I can tell you.This is no fancy of a great king that drives him on to the stealing of a woman, although she be of his own high blood.

The voice of God has spoken to Salah-ed-din by the mouth of his angel Sleep.Thrice has Allah spoken in dreams, telling him who is merciful, that through your daughter and her nobleness alone can countless lives be saved; therefore, sooner than she should escape him, he would lose even the half of all his empire.Outwit us, defeat us now, capture us, cause us to be tortured and destroyed, and other messengers would come to do his bidding--indeed, they are already on the way.Moreover, it is useless to shed more blood, seeing it is written in the Books that this lady, Rose of the World, must return to the East where she was begot, there to fulfil her destiny and save the lives of men.""Then, emir El-Hassan, I shall return as a spirit," said Rosamund proudly.

"Not so, Princess," he answered, bowing, "for Allah alone has power over your life, and it is otherwise decreed.Sir Andrew, the time grows short, and I must fulfil my mission.Will you take the peace of Salah-ed-din, or force his servants to take your life?"The old knight listened, resting on his reddened sword; then he lifted his head, and spoke:

"I am aged and near my death, wine-seller Georgios, or prince El-Hassan, whichever you may be.In my youth I swore to make no pact with Paynims, and in my eld I will not break that vow.While I can lift sword I will defend my daughter, even against the might of Saladin.Get to your coward's work again, and let things go as God has willed them.""Then, Princess," answered El-Hassan, "bear me witness throughout the East that I am innocent of your father's blood.On his own head be it, and on yours," and for the second time he blew upon the whistle that hung around his neck.