Page 123 - A Knight of the White Cross
P. 123
"For the last nine months Sir Gervaise has been an anchorite. He has been
learning Turkish, and has so devoted himself to the study that even I have
scarce caught sight of him, save at meals. As for walking in the streets, it is
the last thing he would think of doing. I consider myself a good and
conscientious young knight, but I am as nothing in that respect to my
friend. I used to look upon him as my little brother, for we were at the
House of the Order in London together. He is four years younger than I am,
and you know four years between boys makes an immense difference. Now
the tables are turned, and I quite look up to him."
"You will believe as much as you like, Signora, of what Sir Ralph says,"
Gervaise laughed. "As you have, he says, known him for some time, you
must by this time have learnt that his word is not to be taken literally."
"We learned that quite early in our acquaintance," the girl who had first
noticed them said, with an affectation of gravity. "I always tell him that I
cannot believe anything he says, and I am grateful to you, Sir Knight, for
having thus borne evidence to the quickness of my perception."
By this time the servants had brought some more cushions, and on these
Ralph and Gervaise seated themselves. Wine, sherbet, and cakes, were then
handed round. The master of the house placed Gervaise on his right hand,
as a stranger.
"You have been among our islands, Sir Gervaise? But indeed, I need not
ask that, since I know that you and Sir Ralph were knighted together for
your valour in that affair with the ships of Hassan Ali. We come from
Lesbos. It is now eighty years since my family settled in Rhodes, and we
have seen it grow from a small place to a great fortress."
"'Tis a wonderful place," Gervaise said. "I know nothing of the fortresses of
Europe, but it seems to me that no other can well be stronger than this -
that is, among places with no natural advantages."
"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