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。