. Yet it shall shine forth once more,
and to it through the ages shall all men bow the knee. Oh! may
you live! May no more death come among you! It is our last
petition, and with it, this--that when at length you die we may
meet again in heaven! Now fare you well."

Then they passed through the gate, and as the envoys declared
that none might accompany them further, walked forward followed
by the sound of the weeping of the multitude towards the camp of
Saladin, two strange and lonesome figures in the moonlight.

At last these lamentations could be heard no more, and there, on
the outskirts of the Moslem lines, an escort met them, and
bearers with a litter.

But into this Rosamund would not enter, so they walked onwards up
the hill, till they came to the great square in the centre of the
camp upon the Mount of Olives, beyond the grey trees of the
Garden of Gethsemane. There, awaiting them at the head of the
square, sat Saladin in state, while all about, rank upon rank, in
thousands and tens of thousands, was gathered his vast army, who
watched them pass in silence.

Thus they came into the presence of the Sultan and knelt before
him, Rosamund in her novice's white robe, and Wulf in his
battered mail.

Chapter Twenty Four: The Dregs of the Cup

Saladin looked at them, but gave them no greeting. Then he
spoke:

"Woman, you have had my message. You know that your rank is taken
from you, and that with it my promises are at an end; you know
also that you come hither to suffer the death of faithless women.
Is it so?"

"I know all these things, great Salah-ed-din," answered Rosamund.

"Tell me, then, do you come of your own free will, unforced by
any, and why does the knight Sir Wulf, whose life I spared and do
not seek, kneel at your side?"

"I come of my own free will, Salah-ed-din, as your emirs can tell
you; ask them. For the rest, my kinsman must answer for himself."

"Sultan," said Wulf, "I counselled the lady Rosamund that she
should come--not that she needed such counsel--and, having given
it, I accompanied her by right of blood and of Justice, since her
offence against you is mine also. Her fate is my fate."

"I have no quarrel against you whom I forgave, therefore you must
take your own way to follow the path she goes."

"Doubtless," answered Wulf, "being a Christian among many sons of
the Prophet, it will not be hard to find a friendly scimitar to
help me on that road. I ask of your goodness t