wrath of the King of Kings,' said he, 'is like the fire of a
conflagration, which the slightest wind may light up, but which nothing
but blood can quench. But between the King of Kings and the King of
France there is peace and amity and goodwill. Wherefore, friend, say
what you desire of me, and your will shall be granted.'

'Simply,' replied Bisset, 'permission to depart with my comrade and our
train, and six Christian captives who have thrown themselves on our
protection.'

'Be it as you will, Frank,' said Oulagon. 'But not till you have had
fitting gifts; for this is the storehouse of the treasure of the world,
and I would fain send gifts to the King of France; nor would I like his
ambassadors to depart empty-handed.'

The knight and the Templar bowed.

'But,' said Oulagon with a cunning leer, 'ere departing you must visit
the caliph in my company, that you may relate to the King of the Franks
how the King of Kings punishes men who are the enemies of both.'

And without delay the Tartar led the ambassadors to the prison where he
had on the previous day shut up Musteazem in an iron cage, and where he
had since kept his captive without food.

'Caliph,' asked Oulagon approaching, 'dost thou hunger?'

'Yes,' answered Musteazem indignantly. 'I do hunger, and not without
cause.'

[Illustration: "Ah, Caliph," said Oulagon with bitter scorn, "thou mayst
now see thy great fault; for if thou hadst given part of thy treasures,
which thou lovest so dearly, thou mightest have held out against
me."--p. 251.]

'Then,' said Oulagon, 'thou shalt have that to eat which above all
things thy heart loveth.' And the Tartar ordered a large golden platter,
filled with jewels and precious stones, to be brought and set before the
captive.

'Knowest thou these treasures, caliph?' asked he with an affectation of
carelessness.

'Yes,' answered Musteazem sharply, 'I know them, for they are mine own.'

'And dost thou dearly love thy treasures?' asked Oulagon.

'Yes,' replied Musteazem, simply and frankly.

'Well, then,' said Oulagon, 'since thou lovest thy treasures so well,
take of these jewels as many as thou wilt, and appease thy hunger.'

'They are not food to eat,' replied Musteazem, shaking his head with an
air of great dejection.

'Ah, caliph,' said Oulagon with bitter scorn, 'thou mayest now see thy
great fault; for if thou hadst given part of thy treasures, which thou
lovest so dearly, to subsidise soldiers for thy def