Page 373 - A Knight of the White Cross

"Caretto prepared me for this," he said, smiling, "when he asked me if you
might accompany him to Genoa. The Order will be a loser, for you would

assuredly have risen to the grand priorage of your langue some day. But we
have no right to complain; you have done your duty and more, and I doubt

not that should Mahomet again lay siege to Rhodes, we may count on your
hastening here to aid us?"

"That assuredly you may, sir. Should danger threaten, my sword will be as
much at the service of the Order as if I were still a member of it."

"I by no means disapprove," D'Aubusson went on, "of knights leaving us
when they have performed their active service, for in civil life they

sometimes have it in their power to render better service to the Order than
if passing their lives in the quiet duties of a provincial commandery. It will

be so in your case: the lady is a great heiress, and, as the possessor of wide
lands, your influence in Northern Italy may be very valuable to us, and in
case of need you will, like my brother De Monteuil, be able to bring a

gathering of men-at-arms to our aid. Have no fear that the Pope will refuse
to you a release from your vows. My recommendation alone would be

sufficient; but as, moreover, he is himself under an obligation to you, he
will do so without hesitation. Since you have been away, your friend
Harcourt has been appointed a commander of a galley, and Sir John

Boswell, being incapacitated by the grievous wounds he received during
the siege, has accepted a rich commandery in England, and sailed but two

days since to take up his charge. By the way, did you reply to those letters
expressing your thanks and explaining your long silence?"

"Yes, your Highness, I wrote the same evening you gave them to me."

"That is right. The money voted you by Florence will be useful to you now,
and there is still a sum sent by your commandery owing to you by the
treasury. I will give you an order for it. However rich an heiress a knight

may win, 'tis pleasant for him to have money of his own; not that you will
need it greatly, for, among the presents you have received, the jewels are

valuable enough for a wedding gift to a princess."