Let us first return thanks to God for our release, and then we can thank these our brothers." The three knights knelt at the benches where they had toiled and suffered, and hid their faces in their hands.

No sounds came from their lips, but their stifled sobs and the heaving of their naked shoulders, seamed and scarred by the strokes of their taskmasters' whips, told the young knights, who stood unhelmeted and silent around, how deep was their emotion.

Then they rose.
"I am Fabricius Caretto," one said; "this is Giacomo Da Vinci; this Pietro Forzi: all knight commanders of the Order, and now for six years prisoners in the hands of these corsairs.

Assuredly no one would know us, so changed are we." He looked round inquiringly for a familiar face.
"Your commander must surely be a comrade of ours ?" "We know all your names," Gervaise said, coming forward, "though none of us reached the convent until after your capture.

I have the honour to command this galley.