Page 56 - A Knight of the White Cross

occasions. The next day Gervaise took the oaths of the Order in the Church
of St. John. The aged master himself received the vows, and formally

inducted him as a professed knight of the Order, Peter D'Aubusson and the
bailiff of the English langue acting as his sponsors, vouching that he was of

noble blood and in all ways fitted to become a knight of Justice, this being
the official title of the professed knights of the Order. Ten newly arrived
novices were inducted at the same time, and the ceremony was a stately

one, attended by a number of the knights from each langue, all in full
armour.

The ceremony over, Gervaise bore the title of Sir Gervaise Tresham; but
this was an honorary rather than a real title, as the Order did not profess to

bestow the honour of knighthood, and it was usual for its members to
receive the accolade at the hands of secular knights. At the conclusion of

the ceremony, he returned with the bailiff of the English langue to the
auberge, and took up his quarters there. By his frequent visits he was well
known to all the members, and in a day or two felt as much at home as he

had done in the pages' room in the palace. A week was given to him before
he was assigned to any special duty, and he was glad when he was told off

as one of the knights who were to take their turn in superintending the work
of the slaves employed in strengthening the fortifications, although he
would rather that any other employment should have been assigned to him,

because he felt deep pity for the unfortunate men who were engaged in the
work.

He knew well enough that if he himself were ever made prisoner by the
Turks, his lot would be as hard and as hopeless as that of the Moslem

captives; but this, although he often repeated it to himself in order to abate
his feeling of commiseration, was but a poor satisfaction. He saw one side

of the picture, and the other was hidden from him; and although he told
himself that after slaving in a Turkish galley he would feel a satisfaction at
seeing those who had been his tyrants suffering the same fate, he was well

aware that this would not be the case, and that his own sufferings would
only make him sympathise more deeply with those of others. He had found,

soon after his arrival on the Island, that it was best to keep his feelings on
this subject to himself. While the knights were bound, in accordance with