Page 157 - A Knight of the White Cross

"Well, Sir Gervaise, the strip of cotton was brought to us safely. What is
your news?"

"It is very serious, Sir John, and I have been in terrible anxiety since I

dropped it out, lest it should not come to hand in time. As it is, you have till
midnight to make your preparations." He then repeated the statement made
by the galley slave.

"By my faith," Sir John Kendall exclaimed, "this is a pretty plot indeed!

And had it succeeded, as it certainly would have done but for your
vigilance, it would have been a heavy blow to us. The burning of all our
galleys would have crippled us sorely, and the loss of over a thousand

slaves would have been a serious one indeed, when we so urgently require
them for completing our defences. Get rid of those clothes at once, Sir

Gervaise, and don your own. We must go straight to the grand master. You
will find your clothes and armour in the next room. I had them taken there
as soon as your token was brought me."

In a few minutes Gervaise returned in his usual attire, and with his armour

buckled on. The two knights were already in their coats of mail, and
leaving the auberge they went to the grand master's palace. A servitor had
already been sent to D'Aubusson to inform him that they were coming, and

he advanced to meet them as they entered.

"Welcome, Sir Gervaise!" he said. "Whether your news be good or bad,
whether you have found that it is a general rising of the slaves that is
intended, or a plot by which a handful of slaves may seize a boat and

escape, the gratitude of the Order is no less due to you for the hardships and
humiliations you have undergone on its behalf."

"It concerns but one prison: that of St. Pelagius."

"The largest of them," the grand master put in.

"The whole of the slaves there are to be liberated at twelve o'clock tonight,
are to seize the three water towers and to spike the guns, to burn all the