All my declarations were under this necessary and absolute qualification;--only, if Austria had stepped forth and owned the injury like a man, I proffered, for the sake of Christendom, to have forgiven HIM." "But," continued the baron anxiously, "what hope that this juggling slave of Saladin will not palter with your Grace ?" "Peace, Neville," said the King; "thou thinkest thyself mighty wise, and art but a fool.

Mind thou my charge touching this fellow; there is more in him than thy Westmoreland wit can fathom .-- And thou, smart and silent, prepare to perform the feat thou hast promised, and, by the word of a King, thou shalt choose thine own recompense .-- Lo, he writes again." The mute accordingly wrote and delivered to the King, with the same form as before, another slip of paper, containing these words, "The will of the King is the law to his slave; nor doth it become him to ask guerdon for discharge of his devoir." "GUERDON and DEVOIR!" said the King, interrupting himself as he read, and speaking to Neville in the English tongue with some emphasis on the words.

"These Eastern people will profit by the Crusaders--they are acquiring the language of chivalry! And see, Neville, how discomposed that fellow looks! were it not for his colour he would blush.

I should not think it strange if he understood what I say--they are perilous linguists." "The poor slave cannot endure your Grace's eye," said Neville; "it is nothing more." "Well, but," continued the King, striking the paper with his finger as he proceeded, "this bold scroll proceeds to say that our trusty mute is charged with a message from Saladin to the Lady Edith Plantagenet, and craves means and opportunity to deliver it.

What thinkest thou of a request so modest--ha, Neville ?" "I cannot say," said Neville, "how such freedom may relish with your Grace; but the lease of the messenger's neck would be a short one, who should carry such a request to the Soldan on the part of your Majesty." "Nay, I thank Heaven that I covet none of his sunburnt beauties," said Richard; "and for punishing this fellow for discharging his master's errand, and that when he has just saved my life--methinks it were something too summary.