Page 42 - A Knight of the White Cross

his, he felt more lonely than he had done since he entered the house at
Clerkenwell.

On sending in his name Sir Guy was at once conducted to the chamber

occupied by D'Aubusson. The knight was seated at his table, examining
some plans. The room was furnished with monastic simplicity, save that the
walls were hung with rich silks and curtains captured from Turkish galleys.

"Welcome back to us, Sir Guy," D'Aubusson said, rising, and warmly

shaking his visitor's hand. "I have been looking for your coming, for we
need men with clear heads. Of strong arms and valiant spirits we have no
lack; but men of judgment and discretion, who can be trusted to look at

matters calmly and not to be carried away by passion, are welcome indeed
to us. I was expecting you about this time, and when I heard that a ship had

arrived from Marseilles I made inquiries, and was glad to find that you
were on board."

"I am heartily glad to be back, D'Aubusson; I am sick of the dull life of a
commandery, and rejoice at the prospect of stirring times again. This lad is

young Tresham, who has come out in my charge, and for whom you have
been good enough to obtain the post of page to the grand master."

"And no slight business was it to do so," D'Aubusson said with a smile. "It
happened there was a vacancy when the letter concerning him arrived, and

had it been one of the highest offices in the Order there could not have been
a keener contention for it. Every bailiff had his candidate ready; but I
seldom ask for anything for members of my langue, and when I told the

other bailiffs that it was to me a matter of honour to carry out the last
request of my dead friend, they all gave way. You see, I am placed in a

position of some little difficulty. The grand master is so enfeebled and
crippled that he leaves matters almost entirely in my hands, and it would be
an abuse of my position, and would excite no little jealousy, were I to use

the power I possess to nominate friends of my own to appointments. It is
only by the most rigid impartiality, and by dividing as fairly as possible all

offices between the eight langues, that all continue to give me their support.
As you know, we have had great difficulties and heartburnings here; but