Page 131 - A Knight of the White Cross

The vague suspicions he had before entertained as to the man now recurred
with double force; he was certainly in communication with one or more of

the slaves, and such communication, so secretly effected, could be for no
good purpose. So far, however, there was nothing he could tax the man

with. He would probably deny altogether that he had spoken to any of the
slaves, and Gervaise could not point out the one he had conversed with. At
any rate, nothing could be done now, and he required time to think what

steps he could take to follow up the matter. He resolved, however, to wait
and follow the Greek when he came out. After a few minutes he again

repassed the door, and saw that the man was engaged in earnest
conversation with another. After considering for a time, Gervaise thought
that it would be best for him to follow this other man when he left, and

ascertain who he was, rather than to keep a watch on the movements of the
Greek, who, as likely as not, would now return to the merchant's.

He walked several times up and down the street, until at last he saw the two
men issue out together. They stopped for a moment outside, and then, after

exchanging a few words, separated, the Greek going in the direction of the
quarter in which lay the house of Vrados, while the other walked towards

Gervaise. The latter passed him carelessly, but when the man had gone
nearly to the end of the street, he turned and followed him. He could see at
once that he was a lay brother of the Order. This class consisted of men of

an inferior social position to the knights; they filled many of the minor
offices, but were not eligible for promotion. Following for ten minutes,

Gervaise saw him approach one of the barracks, or prisons, occupied by the
slaves. He knocked at the door, and, upon its being opened, at once entered.

The matter had now assumed a much more serious aspect. This young
Greek, a stranger to Rhodes, was in communication not only with some of

the slaves, but with a prison official, and the matter appeared so grave to
Gervaise that, after some deliberation, he thought it was too important for
him to endeavour to follow out alone, and that it was necessary to lay it

before the bailiff. Accordingly, after the evening meal he went up to Sir
John Kendall, and asked if he could confer with him alone on a matter over

which he was somewhat troubled. The bailiff assented at once, and
Gervaise followed him to his private apartment.