The governor produced a number of cloths intended to be served out to the slaves.  Strips of these were cut off and wrapped round the feet of the English knights, so as to deaden the sound of their boots on the stone pavement.  Then, accompanied by the grand master and Sir John Kendall, he went the round of the cells.

In some of these the slaves were found standing up in an attitude of eager expectation, which, as the door opened, and the light of the torches showed a party of knights, changed into one of terror and consternation.  Scarce a word was spoken.  The guard was ordered to lay down his arms, and to take one of the torches.  Two knights placed themselves, one on each side of him, with drawn swords.  The door was again locked and barred, and the party proceeded to the next cell.  In less than a quarter of an hour this part of the work was finished, and D’Aubusson, Sir John Kendall, and the governor, then took up their station with a party of knights who, concealed behind a buttress, were watching the doors of the officials’ houses.

Ten minutes later one of these doors was heard to open, and five dark figures came noiselessly out.  They were allowed to go a short distance, in order to see if any others followed; but as no others came out, the governor stepped forward.

“Whither are you going, at this time of night?” he asked.  There was a momentary pause, a few hasty words were exchanged, then the five men rushed towards him with bared swords or knives; but before they reached him the knights poured out from their hiding place.

“We are betrayed,” one of the men shouted in Turkish.  “Fight to the last.  Better be killed than tortured and executed.”  With a yell of fury and despair, they rushed upon the knights.  So desperate was their attack that the latter were forced to use their swords, which indeed, burning with rage at the treachery of these men, they were not backward in doing, and in less than a minute the five traitors lay, with cloven heads, dead on the pavement.

“It is as well so,” D’Aubusson said, looking sternly down upon them; “perhaps better so, since it has saved us the scandal of their trial.  We might have learned more from them, but we have learnt enough, since, doubtless, they have no accomplices among the warders, or they would have been with them.  Now we will deal with the arch traitors.  There is no need for further concealment; the noise of this fray will assuredly have been heard by them, for they will be listening for the sounds that would tell them the slaves had been liberated.”

Followed by the knights, he went to the door of the house occupied by the overseers, all of whom were members of the lower branch of the Order.  It was indeed evident that an alarm had been given there, for lights appeared at the windows.  As they opened the door and entered the hall, several half-dressed men rushed down the stairs with drawn swords, two of them carrying torches in their left hands.  As the light fell upon the figures of the grand master and the knights, they paused in astonishment.