’To the most exalted man, Henry, by the grace of God Emperor of the Romans, happy, pious, ever august, the invincible Conqueror, Vetus de Monte, by the same great Chief of the Assassins, sends greeting with the kiss of peace.  Let your Celsitude make certain acquaintance with error in regard to the most illustrious person whom you have in hold.  Not that Melek Richard caused the death of the Marquess Conrad; but I, the Ancient, the Lord of Assassins, Fulness of Light, for good cause, namely to save my friend the same Melek from injurious death at the hands of the Marquess.  And him, the said Melek, I am resolved at all hazards to defend by means of the silent smiters who serve me.  So farewell; and may He protect your Celsitude whom we diversely worship.’

As with every business of the Old Man’s, preparations were soon and silently made.  In three or four days’ time Jehane strained the young Fulke to her bosom, took affectionate humble leave of her master, and left the green valley of Lebanon on her embassy.

She was sent down to the coast in the manner becoming the estate of a Sultan’s favourite wife.  She never set foot on the ground, never even saw it.  She was in a close-curtained litter, herself veiled to the eyes.  Sitting with her was a vast old Turkish woman, whom in the harem they called the Mother of Flowers.  Mules bore the litter, eunuchs on mules surrounded it.  On all sides, a third line of defence, rode the janissaries, hooded in white, on white Arabian horses.  So they came swiftly to Tortosa, whose lord, in strict alliance with him of Musse, little knew that in paying homage to the shrouded cage he was cap-in-hand to Jehane of Picardy.  Long galleys took up the burden of the mountain roads, dipped and furrowed across the AEgean, and touched land at Salonika.  Hence by relays of bearers Jehane was carried darkly to Marburg in Styria, where at last she saw the face of the sky.

They took her to the inn and unveiled her.  Then the chief of the eunuchs handed her a paper which he had written himself, being deprived of a tongue:—­’Madame, Fragrance of the Harem, Gulzareen (which is to say, Golden Rose), thus I am commanded by my dreadful master.  From this hour and place you are free to do what seems best to your wisdom.  The letters of our lord will be sent forward by the proper bearers of them, one to Gratz, where the Archduke watches the Melek, and one to the Emperor of the Romans, wherever he may be found.  In Gratz is he whom you seek.  This day six months I shall be here to attend your Sufficiency.’  He bowed three times, and went away.

‘Now, mother,’ said Jehane to the old duenna, ’do for me what I bid you, and quickly.  Get me brown juice for my skin, and a ragged kirtle and bodice, such as the Egyptians wear.  Give me money to line it, and then let me go.’  All this was done.  Jehane put on vile raiment which barely covered her, stained her fair face, neck, and arms brown, and let her hair droop all about her.  Then she went barefoot out, hugging herself against the cold, being three months gone with child, and took the road over barren moorland to Gratz.