Page 133 - A Knight of the White Cross

"I have hardly thought it over yet, Sir John; and certainly no plan has yet
occurred to me."

"Well, think it over, Sir Gervaise. It is not likely that a few days will make

any difference. But I will take measures to see that this Greek does not sail
away from the Island at present, and will speak to the port master about it. I
will myself give the matter consideration, but as you have shown yourself

so quick witted in following up the matter so far, I rely upon you more than
myself to carry it farther. There may possibly be some simple explanation

of the matter. He may come from an island where the Turks are masters,
and has, perhaps, brought a message from some relatives of a slave; as to
the talk with the prison officer, it may be wholly innocent. If we should

find that it is so we will keep this matter to ourselves, if possible, or we
shall get finely laughed at by our comrades for having run upon a false

scent. If, on the other hand, the matter should turn out to be serious, you
will assuredly get great credit for having discovered it. Therefore, turn it
over in your mind tonight, and see if you can arrive at some scheme for

seeing further into it before we take any steps.

In the morning Gervaise again called upon Sir John Kendall.

"Well, Sir Gervaise, I hope that you have hit upon some scheme for getting

to the bottom of this matter. I confess that I myself, though I have had a
sleepless night over it, have not been able to see any method of getting to

the root of the affair, save by the application of torture."

"I do not know whether the plan I have thought of will commend itself to

your opinion, sir, but I have worked out a scheme which will, I think,
enable us to get to the bottom of the matter. I believe that a galley is

expected back from a cruise today or tomorrow. Now, sir, my idea is that I
should go on board a small craft, under the command of a knight upon
whose discretion and silence you can rely, such as, for example, Sir John

Boswell, and that we should intercept the galley. Before we board her I
should disguise myself as a Turkish slave, and as such Sir John should hand

me over to the officer in command of the galley, giving him a letter of
private instructions from you as to my disposal. If they have other slaves on