Page 280 - A Knight of the White Cross

when he appeared, to conduct Gervaise to the place where he was to sleep,
which was, he had already ordered, apart from the quarters of the other

slaves.

"The young fellow is a mass of bruises," Ben Tbyn said to his wife, when
the door closed behind Gervaise. "Hassan beat him so savagely, after they
had overpowered and bound him, that he well nigh killed him."

An exclamation of indignation burst from the wife and daughters.

"Muley has seen to his wounds," he went on, "and he will doubtless be
cured in a few days. And now, wife, that your wish is gratified, and I have

purchased a Christian slave for you, may I ask what you are going to do
with him?"

"I am sure I do not know," she said in a tone of perplexity. "I had thought
of having him to hand round coffee when my friends call, and perhaps to

work in the garden, but I did not think that he would be anything like this."

"That is no reason why he should not do so," Ben Tbyn said. "These
Christians, I hear, treat their women as if they were superior beings, and
feel it no dishonour to wait upon them; I think you cannot do better than

carry out your plan. It is certain there is no sort of work that he would
prefer to it; therefore, let it be understood that he is to be your own personal

attendant, and that when you have no occasion for his services, he will
work in the garden. Only do not for the present let any of your friends see
him; they would spread the news like wildfire, and in a week every soul in

the town would know that you had a good looking Christian slave, and the
sultan's officer would be sending for me to ask how I obtained him. We

must put a turban on him. Any one who caught a glimpse of that hair of his,
however far distant, would know that he was a Frank."

"We might stain his face and hands with walnut juice," Khadja said, "he
would pass as a Nubian. Some of them are tall and strong."