“I have not heard it,” Gervaise replied; “and trust that I may be in time to bear my share in the defence.  However, the blow has been so often threatened that it may be some time before it falls.”

“May Allah bless you, my son, and take you safely back to your friends!  Be assured that you shall have notice as soon as I know that Hassan has returned, and you shall have the bundle with all that is needful, behind my gate.”

Another two months passed.  Gervaise looked in vain for Ben Ibyn’s messenger as he went to and from the palace, and chafed terribly at the delay, when, for aught he knew, the Turkish fleet might already have brought Mahomet’s army to Rhodes.  At last, as he came back from work, he saw with intense satisfaction one of the men, whose face he recognised, leaning carelessly against the wall.  The man gave no sign of recognition, but looked at him earnestly for a minute, and then sauntered off up the street.  Gervaise went up into the town as usual, walked about until it became quite dark, and then went to the gate that led into the merchant’s garden.  He found that it was unfastened, and, opening it, he went in and closed it behind him.  As he did so he started, for a voice close by said,

“Master, it is I, the messenger whom you saw two hours since.  Ben Ibyn bade me say that he thought you might require some service, and, knowing that I could be trusted, bade me wait for you here.  He thought that you might possibly need a messenger to Hassan.”

“The very thing,” Gervaise exclaimed.  “I have been puzzling myself in vain as to how I could get speech with him in some quiet place; but with your assistance that will be easy; but first let me put on this disguise.”

This was easily effected, even in the dark.  A loose flowing robe of white cotton, girt in at the waist, a long bernouse with hood to cover the head, a sash with a dagger, and a scimitar, completed the disguise.

“Here is a pouch,” the man said, “with money for your journey, and a long sword, which he says you can hang at your back beneath your bernouse.”

Gervaise gave an exclamation of pleasure.  By its length and weight he was sure that the weapon must have been the property of a Christian knight.

“Shall I carry the message this evening?” the man asked.  “It is early still, and it were best that you should not linger in the city, where there is sure to be a strict search for you in the morning.”

“But perhaps he may recognise your face?”

“It is blackened, my lord, and I am dressed as you were when with Ben Ibyn.”

“Let us settle our plans, then, before we sally out from here; we could not find a safer place for talking.  What message, think you, would be the most likely to tempt Hassan to come ashore?  You do not know what spoil he has brought?”