On his arrival at the auberge, Gervaise was very heartily greeted by the younger knights.

“I told you you were born lucky, Gervaise,” Ralph Harcourt said.  “There has been more than one wager made that you would be captured; but I, for my part, was confident that your good fortune would not desert you.  Still, though not surprised, we are delighted to see you again.  Now tell us about your voyage.”

Gervaise gave a brief account of the adventure with the pirate, and then described the visit of the governor to the ship.

“Did he say anything to you?”

“He was courteous and solemn; just the sort of man you would fancy a Turkish governor should be.  He looked a little surprised when I accosted him in Turkish, but asked no questions at the time, though I daresay he inquired afterwards of Suleiman how I came to speak the language.  The only time he actually said anything was when he requested that I would not wear the mantle of the Order while in port, as sailors were a turbulent race, and it might lead to an attack upon me; and as he was responsible to the pasha that his safe conduct should be respected, it would be necessary, if I declined to follow his advice, to keep a strong body of soldiers on board.  As this would have been a horrible nuisance, especially as I wanted to enjoy in quiet the view of the city, with its castle and walls, I acceded at once to his request, which seemed to me a reasonable one.  He did send two soldiers on board, but they remained down in the waist, and did not interfere with my pleasure in any way.”

“Next to Jerusalem, how I should like to see Acre!” Ralph Harcourt exclaimed.  “It is, of all other cities, the most closely connected with our Order.  We helped to win it, and we were the last to defend it.  We have heard so much about the fortress, and it has been so often described to me, that I know the situation of every bastion —­ at least, as it was when we left it, though I know not what changes the Turks may since have made.”

“That I know not, Ralph.  Of course, I only saw the seafront, and it was upon the land side that the attack was made.  We know that the breaches were all repaired long ago, and it is said that the place is stronger than ever.  From the port all was solid and massive.  It is indeed a grand and stately fortress.  Here we have done all that was possible to make Rhodes impregnable, but nature did nothing for us; there nature has done everything, and the castle looks as if it could defy the assaults of an army, however large.  And indeed, it was not wrested from us by force.  The knights, when the city walls were stormed and the town filled with their foes fought their way down to the water’s edge and embarked there, for they were reduced to a mere handful; and however strong a castle may be, it needs hands to defend it.  Still, it well nigh moved me to tears to see the Turkish banner waving over it, and to think how many tens of thousands of Christian soldiers had died in the effort to retain the holy places, and had died in vain.”