When Maitre Georges came out from the palace, laughing and talking with the two knights who had entered with him, it was evident that he was well pleased with his reception by the grand master, who had assigned to him a suite of apartments in the guest house.  In reality, however, D’Aubusson had no doubt that his object was a treacherous one, and that, like Demetrius, who had come under the pretence of bringing about a truce, his object was to find out the weak points and to supply the Turks with information.  Georges had, in his conversation with him, laid great stress on the strength of the Turkish army, the excellent quality of the troops, and the enormous battering train that had been prepared.  But every word he spoke but added to the grand master’s suspicions; for if the man considered that the capture of the city was morally certain, it would be simply throwing away his life to enter it as a deserter.

The grand master was, however, too politic to betray any doubt of Georges’ sincerity.  Were he treated as a traitor, Paleologus might find another agent to do the work.  It was, therefore, better to feign a belief in his story, to obtain all the information possible from him, and at the same time to prevent his gaining any knowledge of affairs that would be of the slightest use to the Turks.  Instructions were therefore given to the two knights that, while Georges was to be treated with all courtesy, he was to be strictly watched, though in such a manner that he should be in ignorance of it, and that, whenever he turned his steps in the direction of those parts of the defences where fresh works had been recently added and preparations made of which it was desirable the Turks should be kept in ignorance, he was to be met, as if by accident, by one of the knights told off for the purpose, and his steps diverted in another direction.

Georges soon made himself popular among many of the knights, who had no suspicions of his real character.  He was a man of exceptional figure, tall, strong, splendidly proportioned, with a handsome face and gallant bearing.  He was extremely well informed on all subjects, had travelled widely, had seen many adventures, was full of anecdote, and among the younger knights, therefore, he was soon regarded as a charming companion.  His very popularity among them aided D’Aubusson’s plans, as Georges was generally the centre of a group of listeners, and so had but few opportunities of getting away quietly to obtain the information he sought.  Gervaise delivered his report to the grand master.

“I am free now,” D’Aubusson said, “and will accompany you to St. Nicholas.  I have been detained by the coming of this man Georges.  He is a clever knave, and, I doubt not, has come as a spy.  However, I have taken measures that he shall learn nothing that can harm us.  No lives have been lost at the tower, I hope?”

“No, sir; Caretto has forbidden any to show themselves on the walls.”