Caretto shook his head.

“It is as I feared,” he said.  “No stones ever quarried by man could long resist such tremendous blows.  In some places, you see, the stones are starred and cracked, in others the shock seems to have pulverised the spot where it struck; but, worse, still, the whole face of the wall is shaken.  There are cracks between the stones, and some of these are partly bulged out and partly driven in.  It may take some time before a breach is effected, but sooner or later the wall will surely be demolished.”

“I will go up and make my report to the grand master.”

“Do so, Gervaise.  I almost wonder that he has not himself come down to see how the wall is resisting.”

Gervaise, on reaching the palace, heard that D’Aubusson was at present engaged in examining no less a person than Maitre Georges, the right hand of Paleologus, who had soon after daybreak presented himself before the wall on the other side of the town, declaring that he had left the Turkish service, and craving to be admitted.  News had been sent at once to D’Aubusson, who despatched two of the senior knights, with orders to admit him and receive him with all honour.  This had been done, and the grand master, with some of his council, were now closeted with the newcomer.  Several of the knights were gathered in the courtyard, discussing the event.  There was no question that if the renegade came in good faith, his defection would be a serious blow to the assailants, and that his well known skill and experience would greatly benefit the defenders.

“For my part,” Sir John Boswell, who formed one of the detachment which the English langue, as well as all the others, contributed to form the garrison of the palace said, “I would have hung the fellow up by the neck over the gateway, and he should never have set foot within the walls.  Think you that a man who has denied his faith and taken service with his enemies is to be trusted, whatever oaths he may take?”

“You must remember, Boswell,” another said, “that hitherto Georges has not fought against Christians, but has served Mahomet in his wars with other infidels.  I am not saying a word in defence of his having become a renegade; yet even a renegade may have some sort of heart, and now that he has been called upon to fight against Christians he may well have repented of his faults, and determined to sacrifice his position and prospects rather than aid in the attack on the city.”

“We shall see.  As for me, I regard a renegade as the most contemptible of wretches, and have no belief that they have either a heart or conscience.”