Page 320 - A Knight of the White Cross

palace, and, among others, he was introduced to the Viscount de Monteuil,
the elder brother of D'Aubusson, one of the most famous leaders of the day.

He had brought with him a considerable body of retainers, and, although
not a member of the Order, had offered his services in defence of the town.

The council had gratefully accepted the offer, and had unanimously named
him Commander of the Forces. Many other knights and soldiers had come
from different parts of Europe, animated alike by the desire to aid in the

defence of Christendom against the advance of the Moslems, and to gain
credit and honour by taking part in a siege that was sure to be a desperate

one.

"My brother has already spoken of you to me, Sir Gervaise," the viscount

said, when the young knight was presented to him; "although indeed there
was no occasion for him to do so, since the name of the knight who two

years ago saved the commerce of Italy from ruin, and with a single galley
destroyed or captured a great fleet of over twenty Barbary pirates, and thus
for a time put a stop to the depredations of the infidels, is known

throughout Europe. By the way, I am the bearer of a message to you. I took
ship at Genoa on my way hither, and stayed two or three days there while

she was being got ready for sea. Knowing that I was bound hither, a certain
very beautiful young lady of noble family, to whom I had the honour of
being introduced, prayed me that if you should by any chance have escaped

from captivity -- and she said that she was convinced that you would, when
you heard that Rhodes was threatened, assuredly endeavour to escape and

to come hither to take a share in the defence -- I was to tell you that she
trusted you still bore her gage, and that she, on her part, had held fast to the
promise she made you."

"I still have her gage, Viscount; for though I was for a long time deprived

of it, I succeeded in regaining it when I made my escape," Gervaise said
quietly; and De Monteuil at once turned the conversation to another topic.

Gervaise found that no attempt was to be made to take the offensive against
the Turks, and that they were to be permitted to advance against the city

without interference. Many of the more fiery spirits among the knights
chafed at this prohibition. The records of the past showed that armies as