Page 158 - A Knight of the White Cross

shipping in the harbour, to make off with six galleys, and destroy the rest."

"By St. John!" D'Aubusson exclaimed, "this is indeed a serious matter. But
tell me all about it. There must be treachery indeed at work for such a

scheme to be carried out.

Gervaise now told him all the details he had learned.

"So two of the Order, though but of the inferior grade, are in the plot?" the

grand master said; "and several of the overseers? One of the villains is, of
course, the man you saw this Greek talking with. We must get hold of the
other if we can. As to the slaves, now that we have warning, there is an end

of the matter, though without such warning they would surely have
succeeded, for the plans are well laid, and they would have been at sea

before we could have gathered in any force at the port. If it were not that it
would cost the lives of many of the warders and of the prison guards, I
should say we ought to take post outside the gate, for we should then catch

the traitors who are to accompany them. As it is, we must be beforehand
with them. A hundred men will be more than ample for our purpose. Do

you take fifty of your knights, Sir John Kendall, and I will draw fifty of
those of Auvergne. At eleven o'clock we will meet at the gate leading down
into the town, and will march to the private entrance of the governor's

house. I will go in first with a few of you, tell him what we have
discovered, and post guards to prevent any one from leaving his house.

Then, having admitted the others, we will go quietly out and place a party
at each door of the overseers' house, with orders to seize any who may
come out. The rest, in small parties, will then go round the prison, and,

entering each room, show the slaves that their plot has been discovered.
This we must do to save the lives of the guards who may be faithful to their

trust. As to the higher officials engaged in the affair, we must obtain their
names from the overseers or slaves. It is not likely that the two traitors will
quit their houses, as they will leave the matter in the hands of the overseers,

who, as you say, intend to first open the doors, and then to accompany the
slaves in their escape. Do not warn the knights until it is nearly time to

start, Sir John. The less stir made the better, for no one can say whether
they may not have suborned some of the servitors to send instant news of