sword to punish evil-doers and those who do not believe. Well, if
what I hear is true, your brethren are skilled horsemen who even
dared to pass my servant on the narrow bridge, so victory may
rest with them. Tell me which of them do you love the least, for
he shall first face the sword of Lozelle."

Now as Rosamund prepared herself to answer Masouda scanned her
face through her half-closed eyes. But whatever she may have felt
within, it remained calm and cold as though it were cut in stone.

"To me they are as one man," she said. "When one speaks, both
speak. I love them equally."

"Then, Guest of my heart, it shall go as I have said. Brother
Blue-eyes shall fight first, and if he falls then Brother
Grey-eyes. The feast is ended, and it is my hour for prayer.
Slaves, bid the people fill their cups. Lady, I pray of you,
stand forward on the dais."

She obeyed, and at a sign the black slave-women gathered behind
her with their flaming torches. Then Sinan rose also, and cried
with a loud voice:

"Servants of Al-je-bal, pledge, I command you, this Flower of
flowers, the high-born Princess of Baalbec, the niece of the
Sultan, Salah-ed-din, whom men call the Great," and he sneered,
"though he be not so great as I, this Queen of maids who soon--"
Then, checking himself, he drank off his wine, and with a low bow
presented the empty, jewelled cup to Rosamund. All the company
drank also, and shouted till the hall rang, for her loveliness as
she stood thus in the fierce light of the torches, aflame as
these men were with the vision-breeding wine of Al-je-bal, moved
them to madness.

"Queen! Queen!" they shouted. "Queen of our Master and of us
all!"

Sinan heard and smiled. Then, motioning for silence, he took the
hand of Rosamund, kissed it, and turning, passed from the hall
preceded by his singing women and surrounded by the dais and
guards.

Godwin and Wulf stepped forward to speak with Rosamund, but
Masouda interposed herself between them, saying in a cold, clear
voice:

"It is not permitted. Go, knights, and cool your brows in yonder
garden, where sweet water runs. Your sister is my charge. Fear
not, for she is guarded."

"Come," said Godwin to Wulf; "we had best obey."

So together they walked through the crowd of those feasters that
remained, for most of them had already left the hall, who made
way, not without reverence, for the brethren of this new star of
beauty, on to the terrace, and from the terrac