Page 247 - A Knight of the White Cross

pleasure when he arrived here so suddenly ten days ago. We were
expecting that he would remain with us for some time, but he says that he

must first go back to Rhodes, after which he will ask for leave, and return
here. We have a banquet tomorrow evening to celebrate his return, and

earnestly hoped that you would be present, but, since you say that you do
not care for such gaieties, we shall, if you prefer it, be glad if you will come
to join us at our family meal at twelve."

"Thank you, countess, I should very greatly prefer it, and it will give me

real pleasure to come."

"Your friend, Sir Ralph Harcourt, has been telling us how you have

destroyed the corsair fleet that has been so alarming us. He, too, is an
Englishman, though he speaks Italian well."

"Yes, he speaks it a great deal better than I do," Gervaise said. "He is a dear
friend of mine, and it is, indeed, chiefly owing to his support and influence

that I have been able to manage so pleasantly and well in the command of a
body of young knights, most of whom are my seniors."

"He tells us that you speak Turkish?"

"Yes; I thought that it would be very useful, and spent nearly a year in
acquiring it, the bailiff of my langue being kind enough to relieve me of all

other duties. I was fortunate enough to find in one of the servants of the
auberge a well educated and widely informed Turk, who was a very
pleasant companion, as well as an excellent instructor, and I learnt much

from him besides his language. The knowledge of Turkish has already
proved to me most useful, and was indeed the means by which I obtained

both my commandery and my appointment as captain of the galley."

"Perhaps you will tell us the story tomorrow; that is, if it is too long to tell

us now?"

"It is indeed much too long; but if it will interest you I shall be glad to
recount it tomorrow."