Page 254 - A Knight of the White Cross

every man's career; but when it is not once, but several times, that a knight
gains special credit for deeds he has performed, we may be sure that fortune

has less to do with the matter than his personal merits. Three times have
you earned special credit; upon the first occasion, the grand master -- no

mean judge of conduct and character -- deemed you worthy of secular
knighthood, an honour which has not, in my memory, been bestowed at
Rhodes upon any young knight; on the second, you were promoted to the

command of a galley, though never before has such a command been given
to any, save knights of long experience; and now, for the third time, the

councillors of one of the greatest of Italian cities are about to do you
honour. It is good to be modest, Sir Gervaise, and it is better to
underestimate than to overrate one's own merits, but it is not well to carry

the feeling to an extreme. I am quite sure that in your case your disclaimer
is wholly sincere and unaffected; but take my advice, accept the honours

the world may pay you as not undeserved, determining only in your mind
that if you deem them excessive, you will at least do all in your power to
show that they are not ill bestowed. You will not, I trust, take my counsel

amiss."

"On the contrary, Sir Fabricius," Gervaise said warmly. "I am really but a
boy yet, though by good fortune pushed strangely forward, and I am glad
indeed to receive council from a knight of vastly greater experience than

myself and, in future, however much I may be conscious in my own mind
that anything I have done is greatly overrated, I will at least abstain from

protest. And now, Countess, I must pray you to excuse me. I know that Sir
Ralph Harcourt is, before this, down at the dockyard waiting my coming to
engage sailors."

"You will come tomorrow at the same time, I hope, Sir Gervaise. As

Claudia's sworn knight we have now a claim upon you, and for the short
time that you remain here you must regard this as your home, although you
must necessarily remain the guest of the doge."

"He is a fine young fellow, indeed," Caretto said, after Gervaise had left.

"There is no affectation about his modesty, and he really considers that this
success he has gained is solely a stroke of good fortune. Of course, I have