Ihaddesignedotherwise，’’saidSaladin，buthadInothastenedhisdoom，ithadbeenaltogetheraverted，since，ifIhadpermittedhimtotasteofmycup，ashewasabouttodo，howcouldI，withoutincurringthebrandofinhospitality，havedonehimtodeathashedeserved？Hadhemurderedmyfather，andafterwardspartakenofmyfoodandmybowl，notahairofhisheadcouldhavebeeninjuredbyme。Butenoughofhim-lethiscarcassandhismemoryberemovedfromamongstus。’’
Thebodywascarriedaway，andthemarksoftheslaughterobliteratedorconcealedwithsuchreadydexterity，asshowedthatthecasewasnotaltogethersouncommonastoparalysetheassistantsandofficersofSaladin’shousehold。
ButtheChristianprincesfeltthatthescenewhichtheyhadbeheldweighedheavilyontheirspirits，andalthough，atthecourteousinvitationoftheSoldan，theyassumedtheirseatsatthebanquet，yetitwaswiththesilenceofdoubtandamazement。
ThespiritsofRichardalonesurmountedallcauseforsuspicionorembarrassment。Yethe，too，seemedtoruminateonsomeproposition，asifheweredesirousofmakingitinthemostinsinuatingandacceptablemannerwhichwaspossible。Atlengthhedrankoffalargebowlofwine，andaddressingtheSoldan，desiredtoknowwhetheritwasnottruethathehadhonouredtheEarlofHuntingdonwithapersonalencounter。
Saladinansweredwithasmile，thathehadprovedhishorseandhisweaponswiththeheirofScotland，ascavaliersarewonttodowitheachotherwhentheymeetinthedesert-andmodestlyadded，thatthoughthecombatwasnotentirelydecisive，hehadnot，onhispart，muchreasontopridehimselfontheevent。TheScot，ontheotherhand，disclaimedtheattributedsuperiority，andwishedtoassignittotheSoldan。