“Yes,” said Martina, who was with me, “you promise, Captain, and we believe you, but the question is, can you answer for the others?  For instance, for the sailor Cosmas there, who, I see, is already drunken and talking loudly about many things.”

“Henceforth, lady, Cosmas shall drink water only.  When not in his cups he is an honest fellow, and I do answer for him.”

Yet, alas! as the end showed, Cosmas was not to be answered for by anyone.

We went ashore and took up our abode in a certain house, where we were safe.  Whether the Christian owners of that house did or did not know who we were, I am not certain.  At any rate, through them we were introduced at night into the palace of Politian, the Melchite Patriarch of Alexandria.  He was a stern-faced, black-bearded man of honest heart but narrow views, of whom the Bishop Barnabas had often spoken to me as his closest friend.  To this Politian I told all under the seal of our Faith, asking his aid in my quest.  When I had finished my tale he thought a while.  Then he said,

“You are a bold man, General Olaf; so bold that I think God must be leading you to His own ends.  Now, you have heard aright.  Barnabas, my beloved brother and your father in Christ, has been taken hence.  He was murdered by some fanatic Moslems soon after his return from Byzantium.  Also it is true that the Prince Magas was killed in war by the Emir Musa, and that the lady Heliodore escaped out of his clutches.  What became of her afterwards no man knows, but for my part I believe that she is dead.”

“And I believe that she is alive,” I answered, “and therefore I go to seek her.”

“Seek and ye shall find,” mused the Patriarch; “at least, I hope so, though my advice to you is to bide here and send others to seek.”

“That I will not do,” I answered again.

“Then go, and God be with you.  I’ll warn certain of the faithful of your coming, so that you may not lack a friend at need.  When you return, if you should ever return, come to me, for I have more influence with these Moslems than most, and may be able to serve you.  I can say no more, and it is not safe that you should tarry here too long.  Stay, I forget.  There are two things you should know.  The first is that the Emir Musa, he who seized the lady Heliodore, is about to be deposed.  I have the news from the Caliph Harun himself, for with him I am on friendly terms because of a service I did him through my skill in medicine.  The second is that Irene has beguiled Constantine, or bewitched him, I know not which.  At least, by his own proclamation once more she rules the Empire jointly with himself, and that I think will be his death warrant, and perhaps yours also.”

“Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,” I said.  “Now if I live I shall learn whether any oaths are sacred to Irene, as will Constantine.”

Then we parted.