“It will last a fortnight; at least, so Sir John Kendall says.  But he has arranged that if at the end of ten days I have not succeeded in finding out anything, he will send down to the prison, and under the pretence that he wants to ask me some questions about what ransom my father would be likely to pay for me, he will have me up to the auberge, and there I can dye myself afresh.”

“How are you to communicate with him in case of need?”

“His servant Ahmet, who got the things for me, is to come down every morning, and to be near the door of the prison at the hour when the slaves are taken out to work.  If I have aught to communicate I am to nod twice, and Sir John Kendall will send down that evening to fetch me, instead of waiting until it is time for me to renew my dye.”

“What is going to be said to Harcourt and the others to account for your absence?”

“The bailiff will merely say that he has suddenly sent me away by ship, on a private mission.  They may wonder, perhaps, but none of them will venture to ask him its nature.”

“Well, I must say that you seem to have made all your arrangements carefully, Tresham, and I hope it will turn out well.  I was against the scheme at first, but I own that I do not see now why it should not succeed; and if there is any plot really on hand, you may be able to get to the bottom of it.”

It was an hour after darkness had completely fallen when the regular beat of oars was heard.  The ship’s boat was already in the water, and Gervaise, wrapped up in his mantle, followed Sir John out of his cabin and descended with him into the boat, which was at once rowed towards the approaching galley.  Sir John hailed it as it came along.

“Who is it calls?” a voice said.

“It is I —­ Sir John Boswell.  Pray take me on board, Sir Almeric.  It is a somewhat special matter.”

The order was given, the galley slaves ceased rowing, and the boat ran alongside.  Gervaise unclasped his mantle and gave it to Sir John, and then followed him on board.

“I congratulate you on your return, and on your good fortune in having, as your letter stated, made a prosperous voyage,” Sir John said, as he shook hands with the commander of the galley.

“I would speak a word with you aside,” he added in a low voice.

Sir Almeric moved with him a few paces from the other knights.

“I am sent here by our bailiff, Sir Almeric.  I have a Turkish prisoner here with me who is to be landed with those you have taken.  There are special reasons for this, which I need not now enter into.  Will you let him sit down here by the helm?  My instructions are that he is not to mingle with the other slaves; and as there are reasons why it is wished that his coming on board in this manner shall not be known to them, I myself am to take him up to one of the prisons, or at least to hand him over to the officer sent down from that prison to take up the captives allotted to it.  The matter is of more importance than it seems to be, or, as you may imagine, I should not be charged to intercept you on such an errand.”