第16章

How，DeMulton，thou？’’saidtheKing，contractinghisbrows，andspeakinginatoneofangrysurprise，-Thoucountenancehisinsolence？-Itcannotbe。’’

Nay，yourMajestywillpardonmetoremindyou，thatI

havebymineofficerighttograntlibertytomenofgentleblood，tokeepthemahoundortwowithinthecamp，justtocherishthenobleartofvenerie；andbesides，itwereasintohavemaimedorharmedathingsonobleasthisgentleman’sdog。’’

Hashethenadogsohandsome？’’saidtheKing。

AmostperfectcreatureofHeaven，’’saidthebaron，whowasanenthusiastinfield-sports-ofthenoblestNorthernbreed-deepinthechest，stronginthestern，blackcolour，andbrindledonthebreastandlegs，notspottedwithwhite，butjustshadedintogrey-strengthtopulldownabull-swiftnesstocoteanantelope。’’

TheKinglaughedathisenthusiasm。Well，thouhastgivenhimleavetokeepthehound，sothereisanendofit。

Benot，however，liberalofyourlicencesamongthoseknightsadventurers，whohavenoprinceorleadertodependupon-theyareungovernable，andleavenogameinPalestine-Buttothispieceoflearnedheathenesse-say’stthoutheScotmethiminthedesert？’’

No，myliege，theScot’stalerunsthus:-HewasdespatchedtotheoldhermitofEngaddi，ofwhommentalksomuch’’-

’Sdeathandhell！’’saidRichard，startingup，bywhomdespatched，andforwhat？Whodaredsendanyonethither，whenourQueenwasintheConventofEngaddi，uponherpilgrimageforourrecovery？’’

TheCounciloftheCrusadesenthim，mylord，’’answeredtheBarondeVaux；forwhatpurposehedeclinedtoaccounttome。Ithinkitisscarceknowninthecampthatyourroyalconsortisonapilgrimage-andeventheprincesmaynothavebeenaware，astheQueenhasbeensequesteredfromcompanysinceyourloveprohibitedherattendanceincaseofinfection。’’

Well，itshallbelookedinto，’’saidRichard-SothisScotsman，thisenvoy，metwithawanderingphysicianatthegrottoofEngaddi-ha？’’

Notso，myliege，’’repliedDeVaux；buthemet，Ithink，nearthatplace，withaSaracenEmir，withwhomhehadsomemleinthewayofproofofvalour，andfindinghimworthytobearbravemencompany，theywenttogether，aserrantknightsarewont，tothegrottoofEngaddi。’’

HereDeVauxstopped，forhewasnotoneofthosewhocantellalongstoryinasentence。

Anddidtheytheremeetthephysician？’’demandedtheKing，impatiently。

No，myliege，’’repliedDeVaux；buttheSaracen，learningyourMajesty’sgrievousillness，undertookthatSaladinshouldsendhisownphysiciantoyou，andwithmanyassurancesofhiseminentskill；andhecametothegrottoaccordingly，aftertheScottishKnighthadtarriedadayforhimandmore。Heisattendedasifhewereaprince，withdrumsandatabals，andservantsonhorseandfoot，andbringswithhimlettersofcredencefromSaladin。’’

HavetheybeenexaminedbyGiacomoLoredani？’’

Ishowedthemtotheinterpretererebringingthemhither，andbeholdtheircontentsinEnglish。’’

Richardtookascroll，inwhichwereinscribedthesewords:-

TheblessingofAllahandhisProphetMahommed，[`Outuponthehound！’saidRichard，spittingincontempt，bywayofinterjection；]Saladin，kingofkings，SoldanofEgyptandofSyria，thelightandrefugeoftheearth，tothegreatMelechRic，RichardofEngland，greeting。Whereas，wehavebeeninformedthatthehandofsicknesshathbeenheavyuponthee，ourroyalbrother，andthatthouhastwiththeeonlysuchNazareneandJewishmediciners，asworkwithouttheblessingofAllahandourholyProphet[`Confusiononhishead！’againmutteredtheEnglishmonarch]，wehavethereforesenttotendandwaitupontheeatthistime，thephysiciantoourownperson，AdonbecelHakim，beforewhosefacetheangelAzrael<*>spreads*TheAngelofDeath。

hiswingsanddepartsfromthesickchamber；whoknowsthevirtuesofherbsandstones，thepathofthesun，moon，andstars，andcansavemanfromallthatisnotwrittenonhisforehead。

Andthiswedo，prayingyouheartilytohonourandmakeuseofhisskill；notonlythatwemaydoservicetothyworthandvalour，whichisthegloryofallthenationsofFrangistan，butthatwemaybringthecontroversywhichisatpresentbetweenustoanend，eitherbyhonourableagreement，orbyopentrialthereofwithourweapons，inafairfield；seeingthatitneitherbecomesthyplaceandcourage，todiethedeathofaslavewhohathbeenoverwroughtbyhistaskmaster，norbefitsitourfamethatabraveadversarybesnatchedfromourweaponbysuchadisease。And，therefore，maytheholy’’-

Hold，hold，’’saidRichard，IwillhavenomoreofhisdogofaProphet！ItmakesmesicktothinkthevaliantandworthySoldanshouldbelieveinadeaddog-Yes，Iwillseehisphysician。IwillputmyselfintothechargeofthisHakim-IwillrepaythenobleSoldanhisgenerosity-IwillmeetSaladininthefield，ashesoworthilyproposes，andheshallhavenocausetotermRichardofEnglandungrateful。Iwillstrikehimtotheearthwithmybattle-axe-IwillconverthimtoHolyChurchwithsuchblowsashehasrarelyendured-Heshallrecanthiserrorsbeforemygoodcross-handledsword，andIwillhavehimbaptizedinthebattlefield，frommyownhelmet，thoughthecleansingwatersweremixedwiththebloodofusboth-Haste，DeVaux，whydostthoudelayaconclusionsopleasing？FetchtheHakimhither。’’

Mylord，’’saidthebaron，whoperhapssawsomeaccessionoffeverinthisoverflowofconfidence，-bethinkyou，theSoldanisapagan，andthatyouarehismostformidableenemy’’-

Forwhichreasonheisthemoreboundtodomeserviceinthismatter，lestapaltryfeverendthequarrelbetwixttwosuchkings。Itellthee，helovesmeasIlovehim-asnobleadversarieseverloveeachother-bymyhonour，itweresintodoubthisgoodfaith！’’

Nevertheless，mylord，itwerewelltowaittheissueofthosemedicinesupontheScottishsquire，’’saidtheLordofGilsland；myownlifedependsuponit，forworthywereItodielikeadog，didIproceedrashlyinthismatter，andmakeshipwreckofthewealofChristendom。’’

Ineverknewtheebeforehesitateforfearoflife，’’saidRichard，upbraidingly。

NorwouldInow，myliege，’’repliedthestoutheartedbaron，savethatyoursliesatpledgeaswellasmyown。’’

Well，thoususpiciousmortal，’’answeredRichard，begonethen，andwatchtheprogressofthisremedy。Icouldalmostwishitmighteithercureorkillme，forIamwearyoflyingherelikeanoxdyingofthemurrain，whentamboursarebeating，horsesstamping，andtrumpetssoundingwithout。’’

TheBaronhastilydeparted，resolved，however，tocommunicatehiserrandtosomechurchman，ashefeltsomethingburdenedinconscienceattheideaofhismasterbeingattendedbyanunbeliever。

TheArchbishopofTyrewasthefirsttowhomheconfidedhisdoubts，knowinghisinterestwithhismaster，Richard，whobothlovedandhonouredthatsagaciousprelate。ThebishopheardthedoubtswhichDeVauxstated，withthatacutenessofintelligencewhichdistinguishestheRomanCatholicclergy。

ThereligiousscruplesofDeVauxhetreatedwithasmuchlightnessasproprietypermittedhimtoexhibitonsuchasubjecttoalayman。

Mediciners，’’hesaid，likethemedicineswhichtheyemployed，wereoftenuseful，thoughtheonewerebybirthormannersthevilestofhumanity，astheothersare，inmanycases，extractedfromthebasestmaterials。Menmayusetheassistanceofpagansandinfidels，’’hecontinued，intheirneed，andthereisreasontothink，thatonecauseoftheirbeingpermittedtoremainonearth，isthattheymightministertotheconvenienceoftrueChristians-Thus，welawfullymakeslavesofheathencaptives-Again，’’proceededtheprelate，thereisnodoubtthattheprimitiveChristiansusedtheservicesoftheunconvertedheathen-thus，intheshipofAlexandria，inwhichtheblessedApostlePaulsailedtoItaly，thesailorsweredoubtlesspagans；yetwhatsaidtheholysaintwhentheirministrywasneedful-`_Nisihiinnavimanserint，vossalvifierinonpotestis_-

Unlessthesemenabideintheship，yecannotbesaved。’

Again，JewsareinfidelstoChristianity，aswellasMahommedans。

ButtherearefewphysiciansinthecampexceptingJews，andsuchareemployedwithoutscandalorscruple。Therefore，Mahommedansmaybeusedfortheirserviceinthatcapacity-_quoderatdemonstrandum。_’’

ThisreasoningentirelyremovedthescruplesofThomasdeVaux，whowasparticularlymovedbytheLatinquotation，ashedidnotunderstandawordofit。

Butthebishopproceededwithfarlessfluency，whenheconsideredthepossibilityoftheSaracen’sactingwithbadfaith；

andherehecamenottoaspeedydecision。Thebaronshowedhimthelettersofcredence。Hereadandre-readthem，andcomparedtheoriginalwiththetranslation。

Itisadishchoicelycooked，’’hesaid，tothepalateofKingRichard，andIcannotbuthavemysuspicionsofthewilySaracen。Theyarecuriousintheartofpoisons，andcansotemperthemthattheyshallbeweeksinactingupontheparty，duringwhichtimetheperpetratorhasleisuretoescape。

Theycanimpregnateclothandleather，nay，evenpaperandparchment，withthemostsubtlevenom-OurLadyforgiveme！-Andwherefore，knowingthis，holdItheselettersofcredencesoclosetomyface？-Takethem，SirThomas，takethemspeedily。’’

Herehegavethematarm’s-length，andwithsomeappearanceofhaste，tothebaron，Butcome，myLorddeVaux，’’

hecontinued，wendwetothetentofthissicksquire，whereweshalllearnwhetherthisHakimhathreallytheartofcuringwhichheprofesseth，ereweconsiderwhethertherebesafetyinpermittinghimtoexercisehisartuponKingRichard-Yethold！letmefirsttakemypouncet-box，forthesefeversspreadlikeaninfection。Iwouldadviseyoutousedriedrosemarysteepedinvinegar，mylord。I，too，knowsomethingofthehealingart。’’

Ithankyourreverendlordship，’’repliedThomasofGilsland；

buthadIbeenaccessibletothefever，Ihadcaughtitlongsincebythebedofmymaster。’’

TheBishopofTyreblushed，forhehadratheravoidedthepresenceofthesickmonarch；andhebidthebaronleadon。

AstheypausedbeforethewretchedhutinwhichKennethoftheLeopardandhisfollowerabode，thebishopsaidtoDeVaux，Now，ofasurety，mylord，theseScottishknightshaveworsecareoftheirfollowersthanweofourdogs。Hereisaknight，valianttheysayinbattle，andthoughtfittingtobegracedwithchargesofweightintimeoftruce，whoseesquireofthebodyislodgedworsethanintheworstdog-kennelinEngland。Whatsayyouofyourneighbours？’’

Thatamasterdothwellenoughforhisservant，whenhelodgethhiminnoworsedwellingthanhisown，’’saidDeVaux，andenteredthehut。

Thebishopfollowed，notwithoutevidentreluctance；forthoughhelackednotcourageinsomerespects，yetitwastemperedwithastrongandlivelyregardforhisownsafety。

Herecollected，however，thenecessitytherewasforjudgingpersonallyoftheskilloftheArabianphysician，andenteredthehutwithastatelinessofmanner，calculated，ashethought，toimposerespectonthestranger。

Theprelatewas，indeed，astrikingandcommandingfigure。

Inhisyouthhehadbeeneminentlyhandsome，and，eveninage，wasunwillingtoappearlessso。Hisepiscopaldresswasoftherichestfashion，trimmedwithcostlyfur，andsurroundedbyacopeofcuriousneedle-work。Theringsonhisfingerswereworthagoodlybarony，andthehoodwhichhewore，thoughnowunclaspedandthrownbackforheat，hadstudsofpuregoldtofastenitaroundhisthroat，andunderhischinwhenhesoinclined。Hislongbeard，nowsilveredwithage，descendedoverhisbreast。Oneoftwoyouthfulacolyteswhoattendedhim，createdanartificialshade，peculiarthentotheEast，bybearingoverhisheadanumbrellaofpalmettoleaves，whiletheotherrefreshedhisreverendmasterbyagitatingafanofpeacockfeathers。

WhentheBishopofTyreenteredthehutoftheScottishknight，themasterwasabsent；andtheMoorishphysician，whomhehadcometosee，satintheverypostureinwhichDeVauxhadlefthimseveralhoursbefore，cross-leggeduponamatmadeoftwistedleaves，bythesideofthepatient，whoappearedindeepslumber，andwhosepulsehefeltfromtimetotime。Thebishopremainedstandingbeforehiminsilencefortwoorthreeminutes，asifexpectingsomehonourablesalutation，oratleastthattheSaracenwouldseemstruckwiththedignityofhisappearance。ButAdonbecelHakimtooknonoticeofhimbeyondapassingglance，andwhentheprelateatlengthsalutedhimintheLinguaFrancacurrentinthecountry，heonlyrepliedbytheordinaryOrientalgreeting，_Salamalicum_-peacebewithyou。’’