第44章

Methinks，’’saidtheSaracen，ifallthoulackestweresomesuchdistantmeteoricglimpseofhappinessasthouhadstformerly，thybeacon-lightmightberekindled，thyhopefishedupfromtheoceaninwhichithassunk，andthouthyself，goodknight，restoredtotheexerciseandamusementofnourishingthyfantasticpassionuponadietasunsubstantialasmoonlight；

for，ifthoustoodstto-morrowfairinreputationaseverthouwert，shewhomthoulovestwillnotbelessthedaughterofprinces，andtheelectedbrideofSaladin。’’

Iwoulditsostood，’’saidtheScot，andifIdidnot’’-

Hestoptshort，likeamanwhoisafraidofboasting，undercircumstanceswhichdidnotpermithisbeingputtothetest。

TheSaracensmiledasheconcludedthesentence。

ThouwouldstchallengetheSoldantosinglecombat？’’saidhe。

AndifIdid，’’saidSirKenneth，haughtily，Saladin’swouldneitherbethefirstnorthebestturbanthatIhavecouchedlanceat。’’

Ay，butmethinkstheSoldanmightregarditastoounequalamodeofperilingthechanceofaroyalbride，andtheeventofagreatwar，’’saidtheEmir。

Hemaybemetwithinthefrontofbattle，’’saidtheknight，hiseyesgleamingwiththeideaswhichsuchathoughtinspired。

Hehasbeeneverfoundthere，’’saidIlderim；norisithiswonttoturnhishorse’sheadfromanybraveencounter-ButitwasnotoftheSoldanthatImeanttospeak。Inaword，ifitwillcontenttheetobeplacedinsuchreputationasmaybeattainedbydetectionofthethiefwhostoletheBannerofEngland，Icanputtheeinafairwayofachievingthistask-thatis，ifthouwiltbegoverned；forwhatsaysLokman，`Ifthechildwouldwalk，thenursemustleadhim-iftheignorantwouldunderstand，thewisemustinstruct。’’’

Andthouartwise，Ilderim，’’saidtheScot，wisethoughaSaracen，andgenerousthoughaninfidel。Ihavewitnessedthatthouartboth。Take，then，theguidanceofthismatter；andsothouasknothingofmecontrarytomyloyaltyandmyChristianfaith，Iwillobeytheepunctually。Dowhatthouhastsaid，andtakemylifewhenitisaccomplished。’’

Listenthoutome，then，’’saidtheSaracen。Thynoblehoundisnowrecovered，bytheblessingofthatdivinemedicinewhichhealethmanandbeast，andbyhissagacityshallthosewhoassailedhimbediscovered。’’

Ha！’’saidtheknight，-methinksIcomprehendthee-I

wasdullnottothinkofthis！’’

Buttellme，’’addedtheEmir，hastthouanyfollowersorretainersinthecamp，bywhomtheanimalmaybeknown？’’

Idismissed，’’saidSirKenneth，myoldattendant，thypatient，withavarletthatwaitedonhim，atthetimewhenI

expectedtosufferdeath，givinghimlettersformyfriendsinScotland-therearenoneothertowhomthedogisfamiliar。

Butthenmyownpersoniswellknown-myveryspeechwillbetrayme，inacampwhereIhaveplayednomeanpartformanymonths。’’

Bothheandthoushaltbedisguised，soastoescapeevencloseexamination-Itellthee，’’saidtheSaracen，thatnotthybrotherinarms-notthybrotherinblood-shalldiscoverthee，ifthoubeguidedbymycounsels。Thouhastseenmedomattersmoredifficult-hethatcancallthedyingfromthedarknessoftheshadowofdeath，caneasilycastamistbeforetheeyesoftheliving。Butmarkme-thereisstilltheconditionannexedtothisservice，thatthoudeliveraletterofSaladintothenieceoftheMelechRic，whosenameisasdifficulttoourEasterntongueandlips，asherbeautyisdelightfultooureyes。’’

SirKennethpausedbeforeheanswered，andtheSaracen，observinghishesitation，demandedofhim，ifhefearedtoundertakethismessage？’’

Notifthereweredeathintheexecution，’’saidSirKenneth；

IdobutpausetoconsiderwhetheritconsistswithmyhonourtobeartheletteroftheSoldan，orwiththatoftheLadyEdithtoreceiveitfromaheathenprince。’’

BytheheadofMohammed，andbytheh

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