第23章 The Wine Merchant(2)

"So in my plight I bethought me of Jebal, and found means to send him a letter sealed with his ring.Nor did he forget his promise, for within twelve days Zobeide and I were galloping for Beirut on two horses so swift that all the cavalry of Ayoub could not overtake them.We reached the city, and there were married, Rosamund There too your mother was baptised a Christian.Thence, since it was not safe for us to stay in the East, we took ship and came safe home, bearing this ring of Jebal with us, for Iwould not give it up, as his servants demanded that I should do, except to him alone.But before that vessel sailed, a man disguised as a fisherman brought me a message from Ayoub and his son Saladin, swearing that they would yet recapture Zobeide, the daughter of one of them and sister of the other.

"That is the story, and you see that their oath has not been forgotten, though when in after years they learned of my wife's death, they let the matter lie.But since then Saladin, who in those days was but a noble youth, has become the greatest sultan that the East has ever known, and having been told of you, Rosamund, by that traitor Lozelle, he seeks to take you in your mother's place, and, daughter, I tell you that I fear him.""At least we have a year or longer ;n which to prepare ourselves, or to hide," said Rosamund."His palmer must travel back to the East before my uncle Saladin can have our answer.""Ay," said Sir Andrew;"perhaps we have a year.""What of the attack on the quay?" asked Godwin, who had been thinking."The knight Lozelle was named there.Yet if Saladin had to do with it, it seems strange that the blow should have come before the word."Sir Andrew brooded a while, then said:

"Bring in this palmer.I will question him."So the man Nicholas, who was found still eating as though his hunger would never be satisfied, was brought in by Wulf.He bowed low before the old knight and Rosamund, studying them the while with his sharp eyes, and the roof and the floor, and every other detail of the chamber.For those eyes of his seemed to miss nothing.

"You have brought me a letter from far away, Sir Palmer, who are named Nicholas," said Sir Andrew.

"I have brought you a chest from Damascus, Sir Knight, but of its contents I know nothing.At least you will bear me witness that it has not been tampered with," answered Nicholas.

"I find it strange," went on the old knight,"that one in your holy garb should be chosen as the messenger of Saladin, with whom Christian men have little to do.""But Saladin has much to do with Christian men, Sir Andrew.Thus he takes them prisoner even in times of peace, as he did me.""Did he, then, take the knight Lozelle prisoner?""The knight Lozelle?" repeated the palmer."Was he a big, red-faced man, with a scar upon his forehead, who always wore a black cloak over his mail?""That might be he."

"Then he was not taken prisoner, but he came to visit the Sultan at Damascus while I lay in bonds there, for I saw him twice or thrice, though what his business was I do not know.Afterwards he left, and at Jaffa I heard that he had sailed for Europe three months before I did."Now the brethren looked at each other.So Lozelle was in England.But Sir Andrew made no comment, only he said:"Tell me your story, and be careful that you speak the truth.""Why should I not, who have nothing to hide?" answered Nicholas.

"I was captured by some Arabs as I journeyed to the Jordan upon a pilgrimage, who, when they found that I had no goods to be robbed of, would have killed me.This, indeed, they were about to do, had not some of Saladin's soldiers come by and commanded them to hold their hands and give me over to them.They did so, and the soldiers took me to Damascus.There I was imprisoned, but not close, and then it was that I saw Lozelle, or, at least, a Christian man who had some such name, and, as he seemed to be in favour with the Saracens, I begged him to intercede for me.

Afterwards I was brought before the court of Saladin, and having questioned me, the Sultan himself told me that I must either worship the false prophet or die, to which you can guess my answer.So they led me away, as I thought, to death, but none offered to do me hurt.

"Three days later Saladin sent for me again, and offered to spare my life if I would swear an oath, which oath was that I should take a certain package and deliver it to you, or to your daughter named the Lady Rosamund here at your hall of Steeple, in Essex, and bring back the answer to Damascus.Not wishing to die, I said that I would do this, if the Sultan passed his word, which he never breaks, that I should be set free afterwards.""And now you are safe in England, do you purpose to return to Damascus with the answer, and, if so, why?""For two reasons, Sir Andrew.First, because I have sworn to do so, and I do not break my word any more than does Saladin.

Secondly, because I continue to wish to live, and the Sultan promised me that if I failed in my mission, he would bring about my death wherever I might be, which I am sure he has the power to do by magic or otherwise.Well, the rest of the tale is short.

The chest was handed over to me as you see it, and with it money sufficient for my faring to and fro and something to spare.Then I was escorted to Joppa, where I took passage on a ship bound to Italy, where I found another ship named the Holy Mary sailing for Calais, which we reached after being nearly cast away.Thence Icame to Dover in a fishing boat, landing there eight days ago, and having bought a mule, joined some travellers to London, and so on here.""And how will you return?"

The palmer shrugged his shoulders.