The Old Man sat stroking his fine beard for some time after he had dismissed his Vizier.  Looking straight before him down the length of his hail, no sound broke the immense quiet under which he accomplished his meditations of life and death.  The Assassins dreaming by the walls breathed freely through their noses.

As a small voice heard from far off in these dreams of theirs, the voice of one calling from a distant height, came his words, ’Cogia ibn Hassan ibn Alnouk, come and hearken.’  A slim young man rose, ran forward and fell upon his face before the throne.  Once more the faint far cry came floating, ‘Bohadin son of Falmy of Balsora, come and hearken’; and another white-robed youth followed Cogia.

‘My sons,’ said the Old Man, ’the word is upon you.  Go to the West for forty days.  In the country of the Franks, in the south parts thereof, but north of the great mountains, you shall find the Melek Richard, admirable man, whom Allah longs for.  Strike, my sons, but from afar (for not otherwise shall ye dare him), and gain the gates of Paradise and the soft-bosomed women of your dreams.  Go quickly, prepare yourselves.’  The two young men crawled to kiss his foot; then they went out, and silence folded the hail of audience once more like a wrapping.

Later in the day a slave-girl told Jehane that her master was waiting for her.  The baby was asleep in the cradle under a muslin veil; she kissed Fulke, a fine tall boy, six and a half years old, and followed the messenger.

The Old Man embraced her very affectionately, kissed her forehead and raised her from her knees.  ’Come and sit with me, beautiful and pious wife, mother of my sons,’ said he.  ‘I have many things to say to you.’

When they were close together on the cushions of the window, Sinan put his arm round her waist, and said, ’For a good and happy marriage, my Gulzareen, it is well that the woman should not love her husband too much, but rather be meek, show obedience to his desires, and alacrity, and give courtesy.  The man must love her, and honour that in her which makes her worth, her beauty, to wit, the bounty of her fruitfulness, and her discretion.  But for her it is enough that she suffer herself to be loved, and give him her duty in return.  The love that seeds in her she shall bestow upon her children.  That is how peace of mind grows in the world, and happiness, for without the first there can never be the second.  You, my child, have a peaceful mind:  is it not so?’

‘My lord,’ Jehane replied, with no sign of the old discontent upon her red mouth, ’I am at peace.  For I have your affection; you tell me that I deserve it.  And I give my children love.’

‘And you are happy, Jehane?’

She sighed, ever so lightly.  ’I should be happy, my lord.  But sometimes, even now, I think of King Richard, and pray for him.’

‘I believe that you do,’ said the Old Man.  ’And because I desire your happiness in all things, I desire you to see him again.’