‘Why, this, my lord,’ said the abbot, ’that our lord the King has too many enemies not declared, who compass his destruction while he compasses their soul’s health.  This is so shameful that we think it no time for the King’s lovers to be asleep.  Therefore I, with this woman, who, of all persons living in the world, is most dear to him (as he to her), have come to warn your lordship of the Marquess his abominable design, in the sure hope that your lordship will lend it no favour.  King Richard, we believe, is besieging the Holy City, and therefore (no doubt) hath the countenance of Almighty God.  But if the devil (who loves the Marquess, and is sure to have him) may reckon your lordship also upon his side, we doubt that he may prevail.’

‘And do you also think,’ asked the Old Man, scarcely audible, ’That the Melek Richard will thank you for these precautions of yours?’

‘My lord,’ said Milo, ’we seek not his thanks, nor his good opinion, but his safety.

‘It is one thing to seek safety,’ said the Old Man, ’but another thing to find or keep it.  Get you back to the doorway.’

So they did, and the lord of the place sat for a long time in a stare, not moving hand or foot.  Now it happened that the child in Jehane’s arm woke up, and began to stretch itself, and whimper, and nozzle about for food.  Jehane tried to hush it by rocking herself to and fro gently on one foot.  The abbot, horrified, frowned and shook his head; but Jehane, who knew but one lord now Richard was away, took no notice.  Presently young Fulke set up a howl which sounded piercing in that still place.  Milo began to say his prayers; but no one moved except Jehane, whose course, to her own mind, was clear.  She put the great veil back over her head, and bared her beauty; she unfastened the purple vest, and bared her bosom.  This she gave to the child’s searching mouth.  The free gesture, the bent head, the unconscious doing, made the act as lovely as the person.  Fulke murmured his joy, and Jehane looking presently up saw the Old Man’s solemn eyes blinking at her.  This did not disconcert her very much, for she thought, ’If he is correctly reported he has seen a mother before now.’

It might seem that he had or had not:  his action reads either way.  After three minutes’ blinking he sent an old Assassin (not El Safy) down the hall to the door.

‘Thus,’ he reported, ’saith the Old Man of Musse, Lord of the Assassins.  Tell the Sheik of the Nazarenes that the Marquess of Montferrat shall come up and go down, and after that come up no more.  Also, let the Sheik depart in peace and with all speed, lest I repent and put him suddenly to death.  As for the fair woman, she must remain among my ladies, and become my dutiful wife, as a ransom price.’