Page 106 - A Knight of the White Cross

and employing the knight who is better suited than any other for it."

"You are right, Boswell," the bailiff said. "I really have been astonished at
the manner in which Tresham has given himself up to study. It would have

been a natural thing had he, after gaining so much credit, been anxious and
eager to gain more. When you spoke to me about his determination to learn
Turkish, I thought he would speedily tire of it, and that when the next

galley sailed, his name would be among the list of volunteers for the
service. I am sure, comrades, that there are few, if any, among us who

would not infinitely prefer fighting the Moslems to spending our whole
time in learning their language; and I for one consider the fact that he has
for nine months laboured so incessantly and assiduously that he has come,

as Boswell says, to speak it like a native, is even more to his credit than the
deed for which he was knighted."

This conversation took place at the upper end of the table, and was not
heard at the lower end where the younger knights were seated.

"I am not chosen from favour," Gervaise said hotly, to one of his

companions who had asserted that this was so. "I am simply chosen
because I can speak Turkish."

"How much Turkish can you speak?" one of them laughed. Gervaise turned
to the Turkish servant behind them, and said, in his language, "Hassan, Sir

Giles Trevor wishes to know how well I speak Turkish. You have heard me
talking with Suleiman Ali. Will you give him your opinion about it?"

The man turned gravely to Sir Giles Trevor.

"My lord," he said, in English, "Sir Gervaise Tresham, he speaks Turkish
same as I do. If he dress up in Turk clothes I suppose him Turk, not know
he Christian by his speech."

Exclamations of surprise broke from the young knights.