“I thank you, my lord, and this officer,” Gervaise replied.  “I will do my best; but I would submit to you that it would be better if I could have the same slaves always with me, instead of their being changed every day; I could then instruct them in their work.  I would also submit that it were well to pick men with some strength for this labour, for many are so weak that they are well nigh useless in the moving of heavy weights; and lastly, I would humbly submit to you that if men are to do good work they must be fed.  This work is as heavy as that in the galleys, and the men there employed receive extra rations to strengthen them; and I could assuredly obtain far better results if the gang employed upon this labour were to receive a somewhat larger supply of food.”

“The fellow speaks boldly,” the governor said to the head mason, when the reply was translated.

“There is reason in what he says, my lord.  Many of the slaves, though fit for the light labour of cleaning the streets, are of very little use to us, and even the whip of the drivers cannot get more than a momentary effort from them.  If you can save twenty-five men’s labour for other work, it will pay to give more food to the other twenty-five.  I should let this man pick out his gang.  He has worked in turn with all of them, and must know what each can do; besides, it is necessary that he should have men who can understand his orders.”

Gervaise accordingly was allowed to pick out his gang; and he chose those whom he had observed to be the strongest and most handy at the work.

“You will be responsible,” the governor said to him, “for the masons being supplied with stone, and if you fail you will be punished and put to other labour.”

So far from there being any falling off in the work, the head mason found that, even though the walls began to rise and the labour of transporting the stones into their positions became greater, the masons were never kept standing.  The men, finding their position improved, both in the matter of food and in the immunity they enjoyed from blows, worked cheerfully and well.  Gervaise did not content himself with giving orders, but worked at the heaviest jobs, and, little by little, introduced many of the appliances used by the skilled masons of Rhodes in transporting and lifting heavy stones.  Gradually his own position improved:  he was treated as an overseer, and was permitted to sleep under an arcade that ran along one side of the yard, instead of being confined in the close and stifling cell.  His dye had long since worn off.

One day as he was going up with his gang under charge of the usual guards to the building, he saw Hassan, who grinned maliciously.

“Ah, ah, Christian dog!” he said; “you threatened me, and I have not forgotten it.  The last time I was here I made it known to an officer of the sultan that Ben Ibyn had a Christian slave who had been smuggled in; and here you are.  I hope you like the change.  Look, I have still got your amulet, and it has brought me better luck than it did you.  I have been fortunate ever since, and no money could buy it from me.”