most used on the Island, and spoken with more or less
fluency by all the knights, among whom it served as a general medium of
communication. "Are you waiting to be invited in, Sir Knight?" she
went on saucily. "I thought that by this time you would know you were
welcome."

"Your tongue runs too fast, child," her father said, as he rose and
walked across to Ralph. "You are welcome, Sir Ralph, very welcome. I
pray you enter and join us."

"I will do so with pleasure, Signor Vrados, if you will also extend your
hospitality to my friend Sir Gervaise Tresham."

"Most gladly," the merchant said. "I pray him to enter."

The two knights passed through the gate in the wall. All rose to their
feet as they went up to the carpet, and greeted Ralph with a warmth
which showed that he was a favourite. He introduced Gervaise to them.

"I wonder that I do not know your face, Sir Knight," the merchant's
wife said. "I thought I knew all the knights of the Order by sight, from
seeing them either at the public ceremonies, or observing them pass in
the streets."

"For the last nine months Sir Gervaise has been an anchorite. He has
been learning Turkish, and has so devoted himself to the study that even
I have scarce caught sight of him, save at meals. As for walking in the
streets, it is the last thing he would think of doing. I consider myself
a good and conscientious young knight, but I am as nothing in that
respect to my friend. I used to look upon him as my little brother, for
we were at the House of the Order in London together. He is four years
younger than I am, and you know four years between boys makes an immense
difference. Now the tables are turned, and I quite look up to him."

"You will believe as much as you like, Signora, of what Sir Ralph says,"
Gervaise laughed. "As you have, he says, known him for some time,
you must by this time have learnt that his word is not to be taken
literally."

"We learned that quite early in our acquaintance," the girl who had
first noticed them said, with an affectation of gravity. "I always tell
him that I cannot believe anything he says, and I am grateful to you,
Sir Knight, for having thus borne evidence to the quickness of my
perception."

By this time the servants had brought some more cushions, and on these
Ralph and Gervaise seated themselves. Wine, sherbet, and cakes, were
then handed round. The master of the house placed Gervaise on his right
hand, as a stranger.

"You have