"They laughed at me, and hinted that I was a sorcerer, or a traitor in your pay, or both.""Blind fools, who would not hear the truth when it was sent to them by the pure mouth of a prophet," muttered Saladin."Well, they paid the price, and I and my faith are the gainers.Do you wonder, then, Sir Godwin, that I also believe my vision which came to me thrice in the night season, bringing with it the picture of the very face of my niece, the princess of Baalbec?""I do not wonder," answered Godwin.
"Do you wonder also that I was mad with rage when I learned that at last yonder brave dead woman had outwitted me and all my spies and guards, and this after I had spared your lives? Do you wonder that I am still so wroth, believing as I do that a great occasion has been taken from me?""I do not wonder.But, Sultan, I who have seen a vision speak to you who also have seen a vision--a prophet to a prophet.And Itell you that the occasion has not been taken--it has been brought, yes, to your very door, and that all these things have happened that it might thus be brought.""Say on," said Saladin, gazing at him earnestly.
"See now,Salah-ed-din, the princess Rosamund is in Jerusalem.She has been led to Jerusalem that you may spare it for her sake, and thus make an end of bloodshed and save the lives of folk uncounted.""Never!" said the Sultan, springing up."They have rejected my mercy, and I have sworn to sweep them away, man, woman, and child, and be avenged upon all their unclean and faithless race.""Is Rosamund unclean that you would be avenged upon her? Will her dead body bring you peace? If Jerusalem is put to the sword, she must perish also.""I will give orders that she is to be saved--that she may be judged for her crime by me," he added grimly.
"How can she be saved when the stormers are drunk with slaughter, and she but one disguised woman among ten thousand others?""Then," he answered, stamping his foot, "she shall be brought or dragged out of Jerusalem before the slaughter begins.
"That, I think, will not happen while Wulf is there to protect her," said Godwin quietly.
"Yet I say that it must be so--it shall be so."Then, without more words, Saladin left the tent with a troubled brow.
Within Jerusalem all was misery, all was despair.There were crowded thousands and tens of thousands of fugitives, women and children, many of them, whose husbands and fathers had been slain at Hattin or elsewhere.The fighting men who were left had few commanders, and thus it came about that soon Wulf found himself the captain of very many of them.
First Saladin attacked from the west between the gates of Sts.
Stephen and of David, but here stood strong fortresses called the Castle of the Pisans and the Tower of Tancred, whence the defenders made sallies upon him, driving back his stormers.So he determined to change his ground, and moved his army to the east, camping it near the valley of the Kedron.When they saw the tents being struck the Christians thought that he was abandoning the siege, and gave thanks to God in all their churches; but lo! next morning the white array of these appeared again on the east, and they knew that their doom was sealed.
There were in the city many who desired to surrender to the Sultan, and fierce grew the debates between them and those who swore that they would rather die.At length it was agreed that an embassy should be sent.So it came under safe conduct, and was received by Saladin in presence of his emirs and counsellors.He asked them what was their wish, and they replied that they had come to discuss terms.Then he answered thus:
"In Jerusalem is a certain lady, my niece, known among us as the princess of Baalbec, and among the Christians as Rosamund D'Arcy, who escaped thither a while ago in the company of the knight, Sir Wulf D'Arcy, whom I have seen fighting bravely among your warriors.Let her be surrendered to me that I may deal with her as she deserves, and we will talk again.Till then I have no more to say."Now most of the embassy knew nothing of this lady, but one or two said they thought that they had heard of her, but had no knowledge of where she was hidden.
"Then return and search her out," said Saladin, and so dismissed them.
Back came the envoys to the council and told what Saladin had said.
"At least," exclaimed Heraclius the Patriarch, "in this matter it is easy to satisfy the Sultan.Let his niece be found and delivered to him.Where is she? "Now one declared that was known by the knight, Sir Wulf D'Arcy, with whom she had entered the city.So he was sent for, and came with armour rent and red sword in hand, for he had just beaten back an attack upon the barbican, and asked what was their pleasure.
"We desire to know, Sir Wulf, said the patriarch, "where you have hidden away the lady known as the princess of Baalbec, whom you stole from the Sultan? ""What is that to your Holiness?" asked Wulf shortly.
"A great deal, to me and to all, seeing that Saladin will not even treat with us until she is delivered to him.""Does this council, then, propose to hand over a Christian lady to the Saracens against her will?" asked Wulf sternly.
"We must," answered Heraclius."Moreover, she belongs to them.""She does not belong," answered Wulf."She was kidnapped by Saladin in England, and ever since has striven to escape from him.""Waste not our time," exclaimed the patriarch impatiently."We understand that you are this woman's lover, but however that may be, Saladin demands her, and to Saladin she must go.So tell us where she is without more ado, Sir Wulf.""Discover that for yourself, Sir Patriarch," replied Wulf in fury."Or, if you cannot, send one of your own women in her place."Now there was a murmur in the council, but of wonder at his boldness rather than of indignation, for this patriarch was a very evil liver.
