“If we do not do so,” he said, “they will assuredly think that it is the corsair fleet advancing to attack and burn the vessels in port, and you may be saluted as you approach by a shower of cannonballs.  If you will permit me, Sir Gervaise, I will go forward in one of the prizes and explain matters, and will return here in a short time.”

“Thank you, Sir Fabricius.  As such mischance as you mention might indeed very well occur, we will lower sail and lie here until you return.”

While Caretto was away, the knights and crews breakfasted, and the former put on their armour and gayest attire, in readiness for the landing.  Gervaise, although with much inward vexation, considered it necessary to do the same.

“I do wish,” he said to Ralph, who was smiling at his rueful face, “that you could for today take my place, and let me pass as lieutenant.”

“I should not mind at all, Gervaise.  But you must put up with the disagreeables as well as the advantages of being commander, and must submit to be honoured and feted here, as well as getting no end of credit at Rhodes.  You will have the satisfaction of well deserving it, for I am sure the plan of attacking them with fire ships would never have occurred to any one else, and if it had not been for that, we should have had the mortification of seeing them sail off without being able to move a finger to interfere with them.”

“If one were fighting for fame and honour, all that would be true enough; but members of an Order, whose sole object is to defend Christendom from the Moslems, should strive only to do their duty, and care nothing for such things as honour and glory.”

“Human nature is human nature, and I don’t see any reason why one should despise honour and glory when they come to one in the course of duty.  I fancy you will think so too, Gervaise, in course of time.  I am quite sure that among the fifty knights, there is not one who does not feel well content that he has not only done his duty to the Order, but has gained a share in the credit and honour that will certainly be given to all who have taken a part in so crushing a defeat of the corsairs.  As for myself, I do not for a moment pretend that I am not sensible of the fact that, as second in command of the galley, my chances of obtaining promotion in the Order are very greatly improved.”

It was nearly two hours before Caretto returned.

“It was well indeed that I went in,” he said to Gervaise, “for I found the city in an uproar.  The alarm bells of the churches were calling all citizens to arms, and troops were being hurried down to the forts and batteries.  Rumour had of course exaggerated the strength of the fleet, and half the population believed that the safety of the city itself was menaced by the approach of a mighty squadron.  As soon as my news was bruited abroad, and they learned that the fleet consisted solely of prizes captured from the Moors by a galley