While he conscientiously spent this amount of time at the work, it was the most disagreeable portion of this day’s labour.  The events, however, that had taken place during the expedition had impressed him greatly with the utility of a knowledge of Turkish, for had it not been for Sir John Boswell’s possessing some acquaintance with the language, it would have been impossible to communicate with the rowers of their boat, or to have arranged the plan by which they had escaped the pirates.  He had then and there determined that as soon as he returned to Rhodes he would take the matter up in a very different spirit to that in which he before approached it.  He had on the way home spoken to Sir John, who had highly approved of the determination.

“I myself, when I was a young knight of eighteen, was taken captive, twenty-six years ago, at the time when the Egyptian fleet appeared before Rhodes.  Our galleys advanced to attack them, but under cover of night they retired, and proceeding to the mainland took shelter under the guns of a Turkish fort.  We attacked them there; it was a desperate engagement, but without any decisive advantage on either side.  We lost no less than sixty knights, the Egyptians seven hundred men; and their fleet returned to Egypt.  I and three others who were left wounded on the deck of one of their ships we had boarded, but failed to capture, were carried to Egypt, and remained there captive for six months, when we were ransomed by the Order.

“During that time I learnt enough of their language, which is akin to Turkish, to be able to make myself understood and to understand what was said to me.  I have kept up that much for intercourse with the slaves and servants at Rhodes, and have found it very useful.  I consider, then, that you will do well to acquire their tongue; it will be useful not only to yourself, but to others, and when we get back I will, if you like, ask the bailiff to free you from all duty in order that you may devote yourself to it.”

The head of the langue at once granted Sir John’s request.

“I would,” he said, “that more of our young knights would give a portion of their time to study; but most of them look to returning home when their term of service here has expired.  Many think only of amusement, and all imagine that advancement is best achieved by valour.  Tresham has already distinguished himself very greatly; so much so, that I think it would be well if he did not go on another expedition for a time, but stayed here while others have the opportunity of doing the same.  Were we to send him out with the next galleys that start, I should be accused of favouritism, and the lad, who is now deservedly popular with all, would be regarded with envy, and possibly even with dislike.