“The knights have always had an abundance of slaves,” the merchant said; “so many that they have not only had sufficient for their work here, but have been able to sell numbers to European potentates.  Yes, Rhodes is wonderfully strong.  That great fosse would seem as if it could defy the efforts of an army to cross; and yet the past has shown that even the strongest defences, held with the greatest bravery, can be carried by generals with immense armies, and careless how they sacrifice them so that they do but succeed.  Look at Acre, for example.”

“I was looking at it five days ago,” Gervaise said, “and thinking that it was beyond the might of man to take.”

“Do you mean that you were at Acre?” the merchant asked, with surprise.

“Yes.  I went there to hand over a captive who had been ransomed.  Of course I had a safe conduct, and I was glad indeed of the opportunity of seeing so famous a fortress.”

“You were fortunate indeed, Sir Knight, and it was, if you will pardon my saying so, singular that so young a knight should have been chosen.  Assuredly, even the senior knights of the Order would rejoice at the opportunity of beholding a fortress so intimately connected with the past history of the Order.”

“It was due entirely to my being able to speak Turkish,” Gervaise said.  “As my friend Sir Ralph was mentioning, I have been studying hard, and can now speak the language fluently; and as this was a necessity on such a mission, and the few knights who can so speak it are all in high office, and could hardly be asked to undertake so unimportant a service, I was selected.”

“And you really speak Turkish well?  It is an accomplishment that few, save Greeks subject to Turkey, possess.  Do you intend, may I ask, to make Rhodes your home?  I ask because I suppose you would not have taken this labour had you intended shortly to return to England.”

“Yes; I hope to remain here permanently.  I know that the first step towards promotion here is generally a commandery at home, but I did not enter the Order with any idea of gaining office or dignity.  I desire simply to be a knight of the Cross, and to spend my life in doing faithful service to the Order.”

“A worthy ambition indeed, and one that, so far as my experience goes, very few knights entertain.  I see yearly scores of young knights depart, no small proportion of whom never place foot on Rhodes again, although doubtless many of them will hasten back again as soon as the danger of an assault from the Turks becomes imminent.  You see, we who dwell here under the protection of the Order naturally talk over these things among ourselves; and although, in the matter of fortifications, all will admit that enormous efforts have been made to render the town secure, it is clear that in the matter of knights to defend them there is very much left to be desired.  It is all very well to say that the knights from all