, with his
servants and dogs and falcons, to sojourn at a goodly country seat he
had upon the Tesino, and no sooner set eyes on Saladin and his company
than he knew them for gentlemen and strangers; wherefore, the Soldan
enquiring of one of his servants how far they were yet distant from
Pavia and if he might win thither in time to enter the city, he
suffered not the man to reply, but himself answered, 'Gentlemen, you
cannot reach Pavia in time to enter therein.' 'Then,' said Saladin,
'may it please you acquaint us (for that we are strangers) where we
may best lodge the night.' Quoth Messer Torello, 'That will I
willingly do. I had it presently in mind to dispatch one of my men
here to the neighborhood of Pavia for somewhat: I will send him with
you and he shall bring you to a place where you may lodge conveniently
enough.' Then, turning to the discreetest of his men he [privily]
enjoined him what he should do and sent him with them, whilst he
himself, making for his country house, let order, as best he might, a
goodly supper and set the tables in the garden; which done, he posted
himself at the door to await his guests.

[Footnote 471: _i.e._ to cross the Alps into France.]

Meanwhile, the servant, devising with the gentlemen of one thing and
another, led them about by certain by-roads and brought them, without
their suspecting it, to his lord's residence, where, whenas Messer
Torello saw them, he came to meet them afoot and said, smiling,
'Gentlemen, you are very welcome.' Saladin, who was very quick of
apprehension, understood that the gentleman had misdoubted him they
would not have accepted his invitation, had he bidden them whenas he
fell in with them, and had, therefore, brought them by practice to his
house, so they might not avail to refuse to pass the night with him,
and accordingly, returning his greeting, he said, 'Sir, an one could
complain of men of courtesy, we might complain of you, for that
(letting be that you have somewhat hindered us from our road) you
have, without our having merited your goodwill otherwise than by a
mere salutation, constrained us to accept of such noble hospitality as
is this of yours.' 'Gentlemen,' answered Messer Torello, who was a
discreet and well-spoken man, 'it is but a sorry hospitality that you
will receive from us, regard had to that which should behove unto you,
an I may judge by that which I apprehend from your carriage and that
of your companions; but in truth you co