Page 99 - A Knight of the White Cross

CHAPTER VII

A FIRST COMMAND

The first news that the knights heard on their return from their expedition
was that the Grand Master Orsini was seriously ill, and that, at his advanced

age, the doctors feared there was little hope of his rallying. Gervaise felt a
keen regret on hearing that the kind and gentle old man, who had been for

three years his master, was at the point of death. Nevertheless, it was
generally felt among the knights that, in view of the dangers that threatened
Rhodes, it was for the good of the Order that a strong and capable man,

whom all respected, and who possessed their entire confidence, should at
such a time be invested with absolute power.

D'Aubusson had, indeed, for some years been the real head of the
community, but every question had, if only as a matter of form, to be

referred to the grand master, in order to obtain his approval and signature.
In the state of feebleness to which he had for some months past fallen,

much time was frequently lost before he could be made to understand the
questions referred to him. Moreover, orders of D'Aubusson could be
appealed against, his views thwarted, and his authority questioned; and it

was therefore felt that, much as they all respected the old grand master, it
would be an advantage to the Order when the supreme authority passed into

the hands of D'Aubusson.

Four days after the return of the expedition Orsini died. A few hours later

the grand council was convened, and D'Aubusson unanimously elected
grand master of the Order. The ceremony of the funeral of his predecessor

was an imposing one. Every knight of the Order in Rhodes was present,
together with a number of the leading natives of the Island; and although
Gervaise had, since his arrival on the Island, seen many stately ceremonies,

this far surpassed anything he had previously beheld.

Gervaise had, at one of his first interviews with D'Aubusson after his
arrival at the Island, been advised by him to acquire some knowledge of
Turkish.