“No, no!” one of the others exclaimed.  “They would only drag you out, and when they saw that there was naught the matter with you, would suspect that there must be some reason why you did not want to go, when, as every one knows, the position of the servitors is in every way preferable to ours.”

“Now then, why are you delaying?” a voice said sharply, and a warder entered with a lighted torch.  “Get up, you lazy hound!  It will be worse for you if I have to speak again.”

“I am coming,” Gervaise grumbled.  “I was just asleep.”

He rose, as if reluctantly, and went forward.  The warder gave him an angry push, followed him out, and locked and barred the door after him.

“I suppose this is the right man?” Sir John Boswell said.

“This is Number 36, Sir Knight, the same who was taken over to your auberge the other day,” and he held the light close to Gervaise’s face.

“Yes, that is the man.  Follow me,” he added, in Turkish.  The gate of the courtyard was unbarred, and they passed out unquestioned.  Sir John strolled on ahead.  Gervaise followed him a pace or two behind.  Not until they had passed through the gate of the castle did Sir John turn.

“I have not spoken to you,” he said, “as we may have been watched.  Keep your news until we reach the auberge.”

Upon entering it they went up at once to Sir John Kendall’s apartments.

“Well, Sir Gervaise, the strip of cotton was brought to us safely.  What is your news?”

“It is very serious, Sir John, and I have been in terrible anxiety since I dropped it out, lest it should not come to hand in time.  As it is, you have till midnight to make your preparations.”  He then repeated the statement made by the galley slave.

“By my faith,” Sir John Kendall exclaimed, “this is a pretty plot indeed!  And had it succeeded, as it certainly would have done but for your vigilance, it would have been a heavy blow to us.  The burning of all our galleys would have crippled us sorely, and the loss of over a thousand slaves would have been a serious one indeed, when we so urgently require them for completing our defences.  Get rid of those clothes at once, Sir Gervaise, and don your own.  We must go straight to the grand master.  You will find your clothes and armour in the next room.  I had them taken there as soon as your token was brought me.”

In a few minutes Gervaise returned in his usual attire, and with his armour buckled on.  The two knights were already in their coats of mail, and leaving the auberge they went to the grand master’s palace.  A servitor had already been sent to D’Aubusson to inform him that they were coming, and he advanced to meet them as they entered.

“Welcome, Sir Gervaise!” he said.  “Whether your news be good or bad, whether you have found that it is a general rising of the slaves that is intended, or a plot by which a handful of slaves may seize a boat and escape, the gratitude of the Order is no less due to you for the hardships and humiliations you have undergone on its behalf.”