At these words Rosamund, who had been listening intently, started like one who has been stung by a snake, put her hands before her face and groaned.

“Princess,” said the ambassador, who was watching her, “you seem to understand our language; is this your will, to mate your noble blood with that of the heretic chief of the Assassins ?”

“Nay, nay!” she cried.  “It is no will of mine, who am a helpless prisoner and by faith a Christian.  If my uncle Salah-ed-din is indeed as great as I have heard, then let him show his power and deliver me, and with me these my brethren, the knights Sir Godwin and Sir Wulf.”

“So you speak Arabic,” said Sinan.  “Good; our loving converse will be easier, and for the rest—­well, the whims of women change.  Now, you messengers of Salah-ed-din, begone, lest I send you on a longer journey, and tell your master that if he dares to lift his standards against my walls my fedais shall speak with him.  By day and by night, not for one moment shall he be safe.  Poison shall lurk in his cup and a dagger in his bed.  Let him kill a hundred of them, and another hundred shall appear.  His most trusted guards shall be his executioners.  The women in his harem shall bring him to his doom—­ay, death shall be in the very air he breathes.  If he would escape it, therefore, let him hide himself within the walls of his city of Damascus, or amuse himself with wars against the mad Cross-worshippers, and leave me to live in peace with this lady whom I have chosen.”

“Great words, worthy of the Great Assassin,” said the ambassador.

“Great words in truth, which shall be followed by great deeds.  What chance has this lord of yours against a nation sworn to obey to the death?  You smile?  Then come hither you—­and you.”  And he summoned two of his dais by name.

They rose and bowed before him.

“Now, my worthy servants,” he said, “show these heretic dogs how you obey, that their master may learn the power of your master.  You are old and weary of life.  Begone, and await me in Paradise.”

The old men bowed again, trembling a little.  Then, straightening themselves, without a word they ran side by side and leapt into the abyss.

“Has Salah-ed-din servants such as these?” asked Sinan in the silence that followed.  “Well, what they have done, all would do, if I bid them slay him.  Back, now; and, if you will, take these Franks with you, who are my guests, that they may bear witness of what you have seen, and of the state in which you left their sister.  Translate to the knights, woman.”

So Masouda translated.  Then Godwin answered through her.

“We understand little of this matter, who are ignorant of your tongue, but, O Al-je-bal, ere we leave your sheltering roof we have a quarrel to settle with the man Lozelle.  After that, with your permission, we will go, but not before.”

Now Rosamund sighed as if in relief, and Sinan answered: