The man was not very tall, and slight in build, yet about him was much majesty, although his garb was such as the humblest might have worn.He came forward, lifting his head, and they saw that his features were small and finely cut; that he was bearded, and beneath his broad brow shone thoughtful yet at times piercing eyes which were brown in hue.Now the prince Hassan sank to his knees and touched the marble with his forehead, and, guessing that they were in the presence of the mighty monarch Saladin, the brethren saluted in their western fashion.Presently the Sultan spoke in a low, even voice to Hassan, to whom he motioned that he should rise, saying:
"I can see that you trust these knights, Emir," and he pointed to their great swords.
"Sire," was the answer, "I trust them as I trust myself.They are brave and honourable men, although they be infidels."The Sultan stroked his beard.
"Ay," he said, "infidels.It is a pity, yet doubtless they worship God after their own fashion.Noble to look on also, like their father, whom I remember well, and, if all I hear is true, brave indeed.Sir Knights, do you understand my language?""Sufficiently to speak it, lord," answered Godwin, "who have learned it since childhood, yet ill enough.""Good.Then tell me, as soldiers to a soldier, what do you seek from Salah-ed-din?""Our cousin, the lady Rosamund, who, by your command, lord, was stolen from our home in England.""Knights, she is your cousin, that I know, as surely as I know that she is my niece.Tell me now, is she aught more to you?" and he searched them with those piercing eyes.
Godwin looked at Wulf, who said in English:
"Speak the whole truth, brother.From that man nothing can be hid."Then Godwin answered:
"Sire, we love her, and are affianced to her."The Sultan stared at them in surprise.
"What! Both of you?" he asked.
"Yes, both."
"And does she love you both?"
"Yes," replied Godwin, "both, or so she says."Saladin stroked his beard and considered them, while Hassan smiled a little.
"Then, knights," he said presently, "tell me,which of you does she love best?""That, sire, is known to her alone.When the time comes, she will say, and not before.""I perceive," said Saladin, "that behind this riddle hides a story.If it is your good pleasure, be seated, and set it out to me."So they sat down on the divan and obeyed, keeping nothing back from the beginning to the end, nor, although the tale was long, did the Sultan weary of listening.
"A great story, truly," he said, when at length they had finished, "and one in which I seem to see the hand of Allah.Sir Knights, you will think that I have wronged you--ay, and your uncle, Sir Andrew, who was once my friend, although an older man than I, and who, by stealing away my sister, laid the foundations of this house of love and war and woe, and perchance of happiness unforeseen.
"Now listen.The tale that those two Frankish knaves, the priest and the false knight Lozelle, told to you was true.As I wrote to your uncle in my letter, I dreamed a dream.Thrice I dreamed it;that this niece of mine lived, and that if I could bring her here to dwell at my side she should save the shedding of much blood by some noble deed of hers--ay, of the blood of tens of thousands;and in that dream I saw her face.Therefore I stretched out my arm and took her from far away.And now, through you--yes, through you--she has been snatched from the power of the great Assassin, and is safe in my court, and therefore henceforth I am your friend.""Sire, have you seen her?" asked Godwin.
"Knights, I have seen her, and the face is the face of my dreams, and therefore I know full surely that in those dreams God spoke.
Listen, Sir Godwin and Sir Wulf," Saladin went on in a changed voice, a stern, commanding voice."Ask of me what you will, and, Franks though you are, it shall be given you for your service's sake--wealth, lands, titles, all that men desire and I can grant--but ask not of me my niece, Rose of the World, princess of Baalbec, whom Allah has brought to me for His own purposes.Know, moreover, that if you strive to steal her away you shall certainly die; and that if she escapes from me and I recapture her, then she shall die.These things I have told her already, and I swear them in the name of Allah.Here she is, and in my house she must abide until the vision be fulfilled."Now in their dismay the brethren looked at each other, for they seemed further from their desire than they had been even in the castle of Sinan.Then a light broke upon the face of Godwin, and he stood up and answered:
"Dread lord of all the East, we hear you and we know our risk.
You have given us your friendship; we accept it, and are thankful, and seek no more.God, you say, has brought our lady Rosamund to you for His own purposes, of which you have no doubt since her face is the very face of your dreams.Then let His purposes be accomplished according to His will, which may be in some way that we little guess.We abide His judgment Who has guided us n the past, and will guide us in the future.""Well spoken," replied Saladin."I have warned you, my guests, therefore blame me not if I keep my word; but I ask no promise from you who would not tempt noble knights to lie.Yes, Allah has set this strange riddle; by Allah let it be answered in His season."Then he waved his hand to show that the audience was ended.
