The knights now returned to their auberges.  It was past midnight, but at the English house the lamps and flambeaux were lighted in the great hall.  The servitors were called up, wine placed on the table, and the knights discussed the incidents of the evening.

When the meal had concluded, Sir John Kendall said, “Brother knights, When the grand master bestowed the honour of secular knighthood upon this young comrade of ours, he predicted that he would rise to high distinction in the Order.  I think you will all agree with me that the prediction is already in a fair way of being fulfilled, and that the services he has rendered to the Order justify us, his comrades of the English langue, in feeling proud of him.  I drink, brothers, to his health.”

A loud shout rose from the assembled knights, for upon the return of the party who had been away, the rest of those at the auberge had hastily robed themselves and descended to the hall to gather the news.  When the shout had died away, and the wine cups were emptied, Gervaise, who was sitting on Sir John Kendall’s right hand, would gladly have retained his seat, but the bailiff told him that he must say a few words, and after standing in embarrassed silence for a minute he said, “Sir John Kendall, and brother knights, I can only say that I am very sensible of the kindness with which you have been pleased to regard what seems to me after all to have been a very ordinary affair.  I saw a man, whom I knew to be a stranger in the Island, speaking surreptitiously to a slave, and afterwards saw him conversing with a prison officer.  That naturally struck me as curious, and I followed the officer, to see to which prison he belonged.  Any one would have thought, as I did, that such a thing was strange, if not suspicious, and the only way to find out whether there was anything in it was to mix with the slaves; as I spoke Turkish well enough to do so I asked Sir John Kendall’s permission to disguise myself.  He gave me every assistance, and I shared their lot for a fortnight.  There was no very great hardship in that —­ certainly nothing to merit the praise that Sir John Kendall has been kind enough to bestow on me.  Nevertheless, I am very glad to have gained your good opinion and very grateful to him and to you for drinking to my health.”

Then he sat down abruptly.

Sir John Kendall now rose, and the knights, following his example, betook themselves to their dormitories.

The next morning notices were sent by the grand master to the bailiffs of the auberges, and the knights of the grand cross who happened to be in the Island, to assemble in council.  Messages were also sent to Gervaise, requesting him to repair at the same hour to the palace, as the council would probably require his attendance.

“Oh dear!  I wish this was all over,” he said to Ralph, as the latter assisted him to buckle on his armour.