Page 162 - A Knight of the White Cross

an expression of stupefaction.

"With all deference to your Highness," he said hesitatingly, "it seems to me
that some one must have been deceiving you with this tale. It is altogether

incredible that such a plot should have been hatched without a whisper of
the matter coming to my ears. It could only be possible were there, not one
but many, traitors among the officials; if this is so, then indeed am I a dull

ass, and unfit for my duty here, of which I shall pray you to relieve me, and
to order such punishment as the council may deem just to be allotted to me

for having so signally been hoodwinked."

"My news is sure," the grand master said; "but I deem not that you are in

any way to blame in the matter. The plot has been matured, not as a
consequence of any laxity of discipline in the prison, but from deliberate

treachery, against which no mortal being can guard. The traitors are two of
the officials who, being members of the Order, none would suspect of
connivance in such a deed. With them are several -- I know not how many

-- under officials, warders, and guards; all these have been bribed by an
emissary from Constantinople, now in the town, and who is doubtless

furnished with large means. It is well, indeed, for the Order, that this
terrible act of treachery has been discovered in time to prevent the plot
from coming to a head, for the loss of all our galleys, to say nothing of the

disgrace of having been thus bearded by slaves, would be a very heavy
blow to it.

"Now that the house is safely guarded, William Neave, you can admit the
rest of the knights, who are waiting outside. Then you will, in the first

place, conduct a party, and post them so that they may arrest, as they come
out to perform their share of the work, all officials, warders, and guards, of

whatever rank. When you have posted knights to carry out this -- and I need
not say that the operation must be performed as silently as possible, for it is
above all things necessary that the men concerned shall have no suspicion

that their plot has been discovered -- you will conduct other parties to the
various rooms occupied by the slaves. The guards on duty inside will be

made prisoners. The doors will then be locked and barred as before. The
appearance of the knights and the arrest of the guards will be sufficient to