came to Tripolis. Thence by the
Aleppo road he went to Karak of the Knights, thence again, after a rest
of two days, he started--he, the knights and esquires of his body in
cloth of gold, with scarlet housings for the mules, litters for his
womenkind; with his poets, his jongleurs, his priest, his Turcopoles and
favourites; all this gaudy company, for the great ascent of
Mont-Ferrand.

His mind was to impress the Old Man of Musse, but it fell out otherwise.
The Old Man was not easily impressed, because he was so accustomed to
impressing. You do not prophesy to prophets, or shake priests with
miracles. When he reached the top of Mont-Ferrand he was met by a grave
old Sheik, who informed him quietly that he must remain there. The
Marquess was very angry, the Sheik very grave. The Marquess stormed, and
talked of armed hosts. 'Look up, my lord,' said the Sheik. The
mountain-ridges were lined with bowmen; in the hanging-woods he saw the
gleam of spears; between them and the sky, on all sides as far as one
could see, gloomed the frozen peaks. The Marquess felt a sinking. He
arose chastened on the morrow, and negotiations were resumed on the
altered footing. Finally, he begged for but three persons, without whose
company he said he could not do. He must have his chaplain, his fool,
and his barber. Impossible, the Sheik said; adding that if they were so
necessary to the Marquess he might 'for the present' remain with them at
Mont-Ferrand. In that case, however, he would not see the Lord of the
Assassins.

'But that, very honourable sir,' said the Marquess, with ill-concealed
impatience, 'is the simple object of my journey.'

'So it was reported,' the Sheik observed. 'It is for you to consider.
For my own part I should say that these persons cannot be indispensable
for a short visit.'

'I can give his lordship a week,' said the Marquess.

'My master,' replied the Sheik, 'may give you an hour, but considers
that half that time should be ample. To be sure, there is the waiting
for audience, which is always wearisome.'

'My friend,' the Marquess said, opening his eyes, 'I am the King-elect
of Jerusalem.'

'I know nothing of such things,' replied the Sheik. 'I think we had
better go down.' Three only went down: the Sheik, the Marquess, and
Giafar ibn Mulk.

When at last they were in the garden-valley, and better still had
reached the third of the halls of degree, they were met by the chief of
the eunuchs, who told them hi