“Ay,” answered Wulf, as they rose and bowed to her, “for pilgrims to this—­holy city.”

The women who were cleaning the mail bowed also, for it seemed that here Masouda was a person of importance.  She took the hauberks from their hands.

“Ill cleansed,” she said sharply.  “I think that you girls talk better than you work.  Nay, they must serve.  Help these lords to don them.  Fools, that is the shirt of the grey-eyed knight.  Give it me; I will be his squire,” and she snatched the hauberk from their hands, whereat, when her back was turned, they glanced at one another.

“Now,” she said, when they were fully armed and had donned their mantles, “you brethren look as pilgrims should.  Listen, I have a message for you.  The Master”—­and she bowed her head, as did the women, guessing of whom she spoke—­“will receive you in an hour’s time, till when, if it please you, we can walk in the gardens, which are worth your seeing.”

So they went out with her, and as they passed towards the curtain she whispered: 

“For your lives’ sake, remember all that I have told you—­above everything, about the wine and the ring, for if you dream the drink-dream you will be searched.  Speak no word to me save of common matters.”

In the passage beyond the curtain white-robed guards were standing, armed with spears, who turned and followed them without a word.  First they went to the stables to visit Flame and Smoke, which whinnied as they drew near.  These they found well-fed and tended—­indeed, a company of grooms were gathered round them, discussing their points and beauty, who saluted as the owners of such steeds approached.  Leaving the stable, they passed through an archway into the famous gardens, which were said to be the most beautiful in all the East.  Beautiful they were indeed, planted with trees, shrubs, and flowers such as are seldom seen, while between fern-clad rocks flowed rills which fell over deep cliffs in waterfalls of foam.  In places the shade of cedars lay so dense that the brightness of day was changed to twilight, but in others the ground was open and carpeted with flowers which filled the air with perfume.  Everywhere grew roses, myrtles, and trees laden with rich fruits, while from all sides came the sound of cooing doves and the voices of many bright-winged birds which flashed from palm to palm.

On they walked, down the sand-strewn paths for a mile or more, accompanied by Masouda and the guard.  At length, passing through a brake of whispering, reed-like plants, of a sudden they came to a low wall, and saw, yawning black and wide at their very feet, that vast cleft which they had crossed before they entered the castle.

“It encircles the inner city, the fortress, and its grounds,” said Masouda; “and who lives to-day that could throw a bridge across it?  Now come back.”