“Maybe you are right.  I think that is wisest for all.  And now on the three of you—­aye, and on your children’s children’s children—­let my blessing rest, as rest it shall.  Come hither, Emir.”

Hassan heard him through his cloak, and, uncovering, came.

“Say to Saladin, your master, that he has been too strong for me, and paid me back in my own coin.  Well, had it been otherwise, my daughter and I must soon have parted, for death drew near to me.  At least it is the decree of God, to which I bow my head, trusting there may be truth in that dream of his, and that our sorrows, in some way unforeseen, will bring blessings to our brethren in the East.  But to Saladin say also that whatever his bigot faith may teach, for Christian and for Paynim there is a meeting-place beyond the grave.  Say that if aught of wrong or insult is done towards this maiden, I swear by the God who made us both that there I will hold him to account.  Now, since it must be so, take her and go your way, knowing that my spirit follows after you and her; yes, and that even in this world she will find avengers.”

“I hear your words, and I will deliver them,” answered Hassan.  “More, I believe that they are true, and for the rest you have the oath of Salah-ed-din—­ay, and my oath while she is in my charge.  Therefore, Sir Andrew D’Arcy, forgive us, who are but the instruments of Allah, and die in peace.”

“I, who have so much to be forgiven, forgive you,” answered the old knight slowly.

Then his eyes fixed themselves upon his daughter’s face with one long, searching look, and closed.

“I think that he is dead,” said Hassan.  “May God, the Merciful and Compassionate, rest his soul!” And taking a white garment from the wall, he flung it over him, adding, “Lady, come.”

Thrice Rosamund looked at the shrouded figure on the floor; once she wrung her hands and seemed about to fall.  Then, as though a thought struck her, she lifted her father’s sword from where it lay, and gathering her strength, drew herself up and passed like a queen down the blood-stained passage and the steps of the solar.  In the hall beneath waited the band of Hassan, who bowed as she came—­a vision of despairing loveliness, that held aloft a red and naked sword.  There, too, lay the drugged men fallen this way and that, and among them Wulf across the table, and Godwin on the dais.  Rosamund spoke.

“Are these dead or sleeping?”

“Have no fear,” answered Hassan.  “By my hope of paradise, they do but sleep, and will awake ere morning.”

Rosamund pointed to the renegade Nicholas—­he that had struck down her father from behind—­who, an evil look upon his face, stood apart from the Saracens, holding in his hand a lighted torch.

“What does this man with the torch?” she asked.

“If you would know, lady,” Nicholas answered with a sneer, “I wait till you are out of it to fire the hall.”