Page 281 - A Knight of the White Cross

"A very good thought, wife; it would be an excellent disguise. So shall it
be." He touched the bell again. "Tell Muley I would speak with him.

Muley," he went on, when the steward appeared, "have you said aught to
any of the servants touching the Christian?"

"No, my lord; you gave me no instructions about it, and I thought it better
to wait until the morning, when I could ask you."

"You did well. We have determined to stain his skin, and at present he will

pass as a Nubian. This will avoid all questions and talk."

"But, my lord, they will wonder that he cannot speak their tongue."

"He must pass among them as a mute; but indeed he speaks Arabic as well

as we do, Muley."

The man uttered an exclamation of surprise.

"He had intended to conceal his knowledge," Ben Tbyn went on, "which

would have been politic; but when he found that my intentions were kind,
he told us that he knew our tongue, and now revealed his knowledge, as he
thought it would be dishonourable to listen to our talk, leaving us under the

impression that he could not understand us."

"Truly these Christians are strange men," Muley said. "This youth, who has
not yet grown the hair on his face, is nevertheless commander of a war
galley. He is ready to risk his life on behalf of a slave, and can strike down

men with his unarmed hand; he is as gentle in his manner as a woman; and
now it seems he can talk Arabic, and although it was in his power to keep

this secret he tells it rather than overhear words that are not meant for his
ear. Truly they are strange people, the Franks. I will prepare some stain in
the morning, my lord, and complete his disguise before any of the others

see him."

The next morning Muley told Gervaise that his master thought that it would
be safer and more convenient for him to pass as a dumb Nubian slave.