Page 47 - A Knight of the White Cross

Passing along the walls of the grand master's palace, which was a strongly
fortified building, and formed a citadel that could be defended after the

lower town and the rest of the castle had been taken, they came to the
western angle of the fortifications.

"You must know that each langue has charge of a separate part of the wall.
From the foot of the mole of St. Nicholas to the grand master's palace it is

in charge of France. On the line where we now are, between the palace and
the gate of St. George, it is held by Germany. From that gate to the Spanish

tower Auvergne is posted. England takes the wall between the Spanish
tower and that of St. Mary. You defend only the lower storey of that tower,
the upper part being held by Aragon, whose charge extends up to the gate

of St. John. Thence to the tower of Italy -- behind which lies the Jews'
quarter -- Provence is in charge, while the sea front thence to the mole of

St. Nicholas, is held by Italy and Castile, each taking half. Not only have
the langues the charge of defending each its portion of the wall, but of
keeping it in order at all times; and I may say that nowhere is the wall

better kept or more fairly decorated with carvings than where England
holds."

"You have not told me who defends the palace itself."

"That is in charge of a force composed of equal numbers of picked knights
from each langue."

Gervaise leant on the battlement and looked with admiration at the scene
beyond. The land side was surrounded by hills, the ground rising very

gradually from the foot of the walls. Every yard of ground was cultivated,
and was covered with brilliant vegetation. Groves and orchards occurred

thickly, while the slopes were dotted with chapels, summer houses -- in
which the natives of the city spent most of their time in the hot season -­
and other rustic buildings.

"What a rich and beautiful country!" he said.