Page 262 - A Knight of the White Cross

"It is indeed," Gervaise replied earnestly. "But I should be glad, sir, if you
will allow that the time should begin to count afresh from our present start.

We have really had but a short period of service, for we wasted a week at
Genoa, and ten days on our journey back here, so that we have had really

no more than a month's active service."

"Yes, if you count only by time," D'Aubusson said, with a smile.

"Reckoning by results, you have done a good five years' cruise. However,
so small a request can certainly be granted. The places of the two knights

who were killed, and of four others whose wounds are reported to me as
being too severe for them to be fit for service for some time, shall be filled
up at once from the langues to which each belonged. You will cruise

among the Western islands, whence complaints have reached us of a corsair
who has been plundering and burning. Sometimes he is heard of as far

north as Negropont, at others he is off the south of the Morea; then, again,
we hear of him among the Cyclades. We have been unwilling to despatch
another galley, for there is ample employment for every one here. After the

blow you have struck on the Moorish corsairs, they are likely to be quiet for
a little. You had best, therefore, try for a time if you cannot come across

this pirate. You must let me know how much you paid for the vessels you
used as fire ships, and to the Sards; this is an expense chargeable to the
general service. I may tell you that to me it is due that no recognition of

your exploits, such as that which Genoa bestowed upon you, will be made.
At the council this morning it was urged that some signal mark of honour

should be granted; but I interposed, saying that you had already received
exceptional promotion, and that it would not be for your good, or that of the
Order, for so young a knight to be raised to an official position of a

character usually held by seniors, and that I was perfectly sure you would
prefer remaining in command of your galley to any promotion whatever

that would retain you on the Island."

"Indeed I should, your Highness. I wish to gain experience and to do

service to the Order, and so far from pleasing me, promotion would trouble
and distress me, and, could it have been done, I would most gladly have

sent home the prizes, instead of going to Genoa, and would myself have
continued the cruise."