“I am ready to do anything for the benefit of the Order, and the safety of Rhodes, that will meet with your approval,” Gervaise replied.  “It will no doubt be unpleasant, but we did not enter the Order to do pleasant things, but to perform certain duties, and those duties necessarily involve a certain amount of sacrifice.”

“Do you think you would be able to maintain the character?  Because you must remember that if detected you might be torn in pieces by the slaves, before the officers could interfere to protect you.”

“I feel sure that I can do so, Sir John.”

“What story would you tell them?”

“I would say that I had come from Syria, and sailed from Acre in a trader, which is perfectly true, and also that I was taken off the ship I was on by a galley —­ which would not be altogether false, as I crossed one as I landed.  I think there would be very little questioning, for I should pretend to be in a state of sullen despair, and give such short answers to questions that I should soon be left alone.”

“The scheme is a good one, Sir Gervaise, though full of danger and difficulty.  If you are ready to render this great service to the Order, I willingly accept the sacrifice you offer to make.  I will send one of my slaves down into the town to buy garments suitable for you, and also stains for your skin.  It will, of course, be necessary for you to shave a portion of your head in Turkish fashion.  I will also see Sir John Boswell, and ask him to arrange for a craft to be ready to start at noon.  The galley is not expected in until evening, but of course she may arrive at any moment now.  Come here again in an hour’s time, and I will have the clothes ready for you.”

“May I suggest, sir, that they should be those appropriate to a small merchant?  This might seem to account for my not being placed with the other slaves who may be on board the galley, as it would be supposed that I was set apart in order that I should be sent to one of the auberges as a servant; and my afterwards being herded with the others would be explained by its being found that there was no opening for me in such a capacity.  I should think there would be no difficulty in obtaining such a suit, as garments of all kinds are brought here in prizes, and are bought up by some of the Greek merchants, who afterwards find opportunities of despatching them by craft trading among the islands.”

Just before noon Gervaise walked down to the port with Sir John Boswell, a servant following with a bundle.

“It seems to me a hare brained scheme, lad,” Sir John, who had just joined him, said, as they issued from the auberge; “though I own, from what the bailiff tells me, that there must be some treacherous plot on hand, and when that is the case it is necessary that it should be probed to the bottom.  But for a knight to go in the disguise of an infidel slave seems to me to be beyond all bounds.”