his is so shameful that we think it no
time for the King's lovers to be asleep. Therefore I, with this woman,
who, of all persons living in the world, is most dear to him (as he to
her), have come to warn your lordship of the Marquess his abominable
design, in the sure hope that your lordship will lend it no favour. King
Richard, we believe, is besieging the Holy City, and therefore (no
doubt) hath the countenance of Almighty God. But if the devil (who loves
the Marquess, and is sure to have him) may reckon your lordship also
upon his side, we doubt that he may prevail.'

'And do you also think,' asked the Old Man, scarcely audible, 'That the
Melek Richard will thank you for these precautions of yours?'

'My lord,' said Milo, 'we seek not his thanks, nor his good opinion, but
his safety.

'It is one thing to seek safety,' said the Old Man, 'but another thing
to find or keep it. Get you back to the doorway.'

So they did, and the lord of the place sat for a long time in a stare,
not moving hand or foot. Now it happened that the child in Jehane's arm
woke up, and began to stretch itself, and whimper, and nozzle about for
food. Jehane tried to hush it by rocking herself to and fro gently on
one foot. The abbot, horrified, frowned and shook his head; but Jehane,
who knew but one lord now Richard was away, took no notice. Presently
young Fulke set up a howl which sounded piercing in that still place.
Milo began to say his prayers; but no one moved except Jehane, whose
course, to her own mind, was clear. She put the great veil back over her
head, and bared her beauty; she unfastened the purple vest, and bared
her bosom. This she gave to the child's searching mouth. The free
gesture, the bent head, the unconscious doing, made the act as lovely as
the person. Fulke murmured his joy, and Jehane looking presently up saw
the Old Man's solemn eyes blinking at her. This did not disconcert her
very much, for she thought, 'If he is correctly reported he has seen a
mother before now.'

It might seem that he had or had not: his action reads either way. After
three minutes' blinking he sent an old Assassin (not El Safy) down the
hall to the door.

'Thus,' he reported, 'saith the Old Man of Musse, Lord of the Assassins.
Tell the Sheik of the Nazarenes that the Marquess of Montferrat shall
come up and go down, and after that come up no more. Also, let the Sheik
depart in peace and with all speed, lest I repent and put him suddenly
t