Page 124 - A Knight of the White Cross

have been able to sell numbers to European potentates. Yes, Rhodes is
wonderfully strong. That great fosse would seem as if it could defy the

efforts of an army to cross; and yet the past has shown that even the
strongest defences, held with the greatest bravery, can be carried by

generals with immense armies, and careless how they sacrifice them so that
they do but succeed. Look at Acre, for example."

"I was looking at it five days ago," Gervaise said, "and thinking that it was
beyond the might of man to take."

"Do you mean that you were at Acre?" the merchant asked, with surprise.

"Yes. I went there to hand over a captive who had been ransomed. Of
course I had a safe conduct, and I was glad indeed of the opportunity of

seeing so famous a fortress."

"You were fortunate indeed, Sir Knight, and it was, if you will pardon my

saying so, singular that so young a knight should have been chosen.
Assuredly, even the senior knights of the Order would rejoice at the

opportunity of beholding a fortress so intimately connected with the past
history of the Order."

"It was due entirely to my being able to speak Turkish," Gervaise said. "As
my friend Sir Ralph was mentioning, I have been studying hard, and can

now speak the language fluently; and as this was a necessity on such a
mission, and the few knights who can so speak it are all in high office, and
could hardly be asked to undertake so unimportant a service, I was

selected."

"And you really speak Turkish well? It is an accomplishment that few, save
Greeks subject to Turkey, possess. Do you intend, may I ask, to make
Rhodes your home? I ask because I suppose you would not have taken this

labour had you intended shortly to return to England."

"Yes; I hope to remain here permanently. I know that the first step towards
promotion here is generally a commandery at home, but I did not enter the