marble reservoir, surrounded with marble balustrades, which
at each angle opened on a flight of stairs, guarded by lions and
crocodiles sculptured of white marble; and alabaster baths with taps of
gold. On one side of the garden was a large aviary; on the other a huge
elephant, chained to a tree. The walks were set in mosaic of coloured
pebbles, in all kinds of fanciful patterns; and around were groves,
bowers, arbours, and trellis-covered paths, with streams, fountains,
hedges of box and myrtle, flowers, cypresses, odoriferous plants, and
trees groaning under the weight of lemons, oranges, citrons, and fruit
in great variety. It was more like such a scene as magicians are
supposed to conjure up, than reality; and the Crusaders gazed for a
while with silent admiration.

'On my faith,' said Bisset, at length breaking the silence, 'this is
marvellous to behold; and yet, had I the ear of the pope of the
infidels, I should recommend an addition which would be to the purpose.
I mean such a statue of the goddess Minerva as once stood in the great
square of Constantinople.'

'And wherefore?'

'Because Minerva is the goddess who presides over prudence and valour;
and my eyes have deceived me if, in this city, there is not a lack of
both. Marked you not, as we rode along, that the place is well nigh
without defences and fighting men; and think you that, with such spoil
in prospect, the Mamelukes, not to mention the Moguls, would hesitate
about seizing it?'

'You err,' replied the Templar: 'the caliph, as you say, is the pope of
the infidels, and the Mamelukes hold everything he possesses as sacred.'

'So did they last century,' remarked Bisset, elevating his shoulders;
'and yet Saladin killed a caliph with his mace; and as for the Moguls,
you know they are almost Christians, and Father Rubruquis is now in
Tartary, completing their conversion. Beshrew me, sir Templar, if I deem
not this caliph foolhardy to run the risk of being attacked, without
fighting men to defend him.'

As the English knight spoke, an officer of the caliph appeared to
conduct the ambassadors to their lodgings; and they, having refreshed
themselves with the bath, and with food, were invited by the grand
vizier to repair to the presence of the caliph.

It was not, however, without much ceremony, and some mystery, that the
Templar and the English knight were admitted into the interior of a
palace within whose precincts no Christian, save as a captive,