errat was by no means his
only enemy,' he told her. 'The Melek suffers, what all great men suffer,
from the envy of others who are too obviously fools for him to suppose
them human creatures. But there is nothing a fool dislikes so much as to
behold his own folly; and as your Melek is a looking-glass for these
kind, you may depend upon it they will smudge him if they can. He is the
bravest man in the world, and one of the best rulers; but he has no
discretion. He is too absolute and loves too little.'

Jehane opened her eyes very wide. 'Why, do you know my lord, sire?' she
asked. The Old Man took her hand.

'There are very few personages in the world of whom I do not know
something,' he said; 'and I tell you that there are terms to the Melek's
government. A man cannot say Yea and Nay as he chooses without paying
the price. The debt on either hand mounts up. He may choose with whom he
will settle--those he has favoured or those he has denied. As a rule one
finds the former more insatiable. Let him then beware of his brother.'

Jehane leaned towards him, pleading with eyes and mouth. 'Oh, sire,' she
said, trembling at the lips, 'if you have any regard for me, tell me
when any danger threatens King Richard. For then I must leave you.'

'Why, that is as it may be,' said her master; 'but I will let you know
what I think good for you to know, and that must content you.'

Jehane's beauty, enhanced as it was now by the sumptuous attire which
she loved and by her bodily well-being, was great, and her modesty
greater; but her heart was the greatest thing she had. She raised her
eyes again to the twinkling eyes of her possessor, and kept them there
for a few steady seconds, while she turned over his words in her mind.
Then she looked down, saying, 'I will certainly stay with you till my
lord's danger is at hand. It is a good air for my baby.'

'It is good for all manner of things,' said the Old Man; 'and remarkably
good for you, my Garden of Exhaustless Pleasure. And I will see to it
that it continues to water the roses in your cheeks, beautiful child.'
Jehane folded her hands.

'You will do as you choose, my lord,' said she, 'I doubt not.'

'Be quite sure of it, dear child,' said the Old Man.

Then he sent her back into the harem.

CHAPTER IX

HOW KING RICHARD REAPED WHAT JEHANE HAD SOWED, AND THE SOLDAN WAS
GLEANER

'Consider with anxious care the marrow of your master when he is
fortunate,' writes Milo of