How，DeMulton，thou？’’saidtheKing，contractinghisbrows，andspeakinginatoneofangrysurprise，-Thoucountenancehisinsolence？-Itcannotbe。’’
Nay，yourMajestywillpardonmetoremindyou，thatI
havebymineofficerighttograntlibertytomenofgentleblood，tokeepthemahoundortwowithinthecamp，justtocherishthenobleartofvenerie；andbesides，itwereasintohavemaimedorharmedathingsonobleasthisgentleman’sdog。’’
Hashethenadogsohandsome？’’saidtheKing。
AmostperfectcreatureofHeaven，’’saidthebaron，whowasanenthusiastinfield-sports-ofthenoblestNorthernbreed-deepinthechest，stronginthestern，blackcolour，andbrindledonthebreastandlegs，notspottedwithwhite，butjustshadedintogrey-strengthtopulldownabull-swiftnesstocoteanantelope。’’
TheKinglaughedathisenthusiasm。Well，thouhastgivenhimleavetokeepthehound，sothereisanendofit。
Benot，however，liberalofyourlicencesamongthoseknightsadventurers，whohavenoprinceorleadertodependupon-theyareungovernable，andleavenogameinPalestine-Buttothispieceoflearnedheathenesse-say’stthoutheScotmethiminthedesert？’’
No，myliege，theScot’stalerunsthus:-HewasdespatchedtotheoldhermitofEngaddi，ofwhommentalksomuch’’-
’Sdeathandhell！’’saidRichard，startingup，bywhomdespatched，andforwhat？Whodaredsendanyonethither，whenourQueenwasintheConventofEngaddi，uponherpilgrimageforourrecovery？’’
TheCounciloftheCrusadesenthim，mylord，’’answeredtheBarondeVaux；forwhatpurposehedeclinedtoaccounttome。Ithinkitisscarceknowninthecampthatyourroyalconsortisonapilgrimage-andeventheprincesmaynothavebeenaware，astheQueenhasbeensequesteredfromcompanysinceyourloveprohibitedherattendanceincaseofinfection。’’
Well，itshallbelookedinto，’’saidRichard-SothisScotsman，thisenvoy，metwithawanderingphysicianatthegrottoofEngaddi-ha？’’
Notso，myliege，’’repliedDeVaux；buthemet，Ithink，nearthatplace，withaSaracenEmir，withwhomhehadsomemleinthewayofproofofvalour，andfindinghimworthytobearbravemencompany，theywenttogether，aserrantknightsarewont，tothegrottoofEngaddi。’’
HereDeVauxstopped，forhewasnotoneofthosewhocantellalongstoryinasentence。
Anddidtheytheremeetthephysician？’’demandedtheKing，impatiently。
No，myliege，’’repliedDeVaux；buttheSaracen，learningyourMajesty’sgrievousillness，undertookthatSaladinshouldsendhisownphysiciantoyou，andwithmanyassurancesofhiseminentskill；andhecametothegrottoaccordingly，aftertheScottishKnighthadtarriedadayforhimandmore。Heisattendedasifhewereaprince，withdrumsandatabals，andservantsonhorseandfoot，andbringswithhimlettersofcredencefromSaladin。’’
HavetheybeenexaminedbyGiacomoLoredani？’’
Ishowedthemtotheinterpretererebringingthemhither，andbeholdtheircontentsinEnglish。’’
Richardtookascroll，inwhichwereinscribedthesewords:-
TheblessingofAllahandhisProphetMahommed，[`Outuponthehound！’saidRichard，spittingincontempt，bywayofinterjection；]Saladin，kingofkings，SoldanofEgyptandofSyria，thelightandrefugeoftheearth，tothegreatMelechRic，RichardofEngland，greeting。Whereas，wehavebeeninformedthatthehandofsicknesshathbeenheavyuponthee，ourroyalbrother，andthatthouhastwiththeeonlysuchNazareneandJewishmediciners，asworkwithouttheblessingofAllahandourholyProphet[`Confusiononhishead！’againmutteredtheEnglishmonarch]，wehavethereforesenttotendandwaitupontheeatthistime，thephysiciantoourownperson，AdonbecelHakim，beforewhosefacetheangelAzraelspreads*TheAngelofDeath。
hiswingsanddepartsfromthesickchamber；whoknowsthevirtuesofherbsandstones，thepathofthesun，moon，andstars，andcansavemanfromallthatisnotwrittenonhisforehead。
Andthiswedo，prayingyouheartilytohonourandmakeuseofhisskill；notonlythatwemaydoservicetothyworthandvalour，whichisthegloryofallthenationsofFrangistan，butthatwemaybringthecontroversywhichisatpresentbetweenustoanend，eitherbyhonourableagreement，orbyopentrialthereofwithourweapons，inafairfield；seeingthatitneitherbecomesthyplaceandcourage，todiethedeathofaslavewhohathbeenoverwroughtbyhistaskmaster，norbefitsitourfamethatabraveadversarybesnatchedfromourweaponbysuchadisease。And，therefore，maytheholy’’-
Hold，hold，’’saidRichard，IwillhavenomoreofhisdogofaProphet！ItmakesmesicktothinkthevaliantandworthySoldanshouldbelieveinadeaddog-Yes，Iwillseehisphysician。IwillputmyselfintothechargeofthisHakim-IwillrepaythenobleSoldanhisgenerosity-IwillmeetSaladininthefield，ashesoworthilyproposes，andheshallhavenocausetotermRichardofEnglandungrateful。Iwillstrikehimtotheearthwithmybattle-axe-IwillconverthimtoHolyChurchwithsuchblowsashehasrarelyendured-Heshallrecanthiserrorsbeforemygoodcross-handledsword，andIwillhavehimbaptizedinthebattlefield，frommyownhelmet，thoughthecleansingwatersweremixedwiththebloodofusboth-Haste，DeVaux，whydostthoudelayaconclusionsopleasing？FetchtheHakimhither。’’
Mylord，’’saidthebaron，whoperhapssawsomeaccessionoffeverinthisoverflowofconfidence，-bethinkyou，theSoldanisapagan，andthatyouarehismostformidableenemy’’-
Forwhichreasonheisthemoreboundtodomeserviceinthismatter，lestapaltryfeverendthequarrelbetwixttwosuchkings。Itellthee，helovesmeasIlovehim-asnobleadversarieseverloveeachother-bymyhonour，itweresintodoubthisgoodfaith！’’
Nevertheless，mylord，itwerewelltowaittheissueofthosemedicinesupontheScottishsquire，’’saidtheLordofGilsland；myownlifedependsuponit，forworthywereItodielikeadog，didIproceedrashlyinthismatter，andmakeshipwreckofthewealofChristendom。’’
Ineverknewtheebeforehesitateforfearoflife，’’saidRichard，upbraidingly。
NorwouldInow，myliege，’’repliedthestoutheartedbaron，savethatyoursliesatpledgeaswellasmyown。’’
Well，thoususpiciousmortal，’’answeredRichard，begonethen，andwatchtheprogressofthisremedy。Icouldalmostwishitmighteithercureorkillme，forIamwearyoflyingherelikeanoxdyingofthemurrain，whentamboursarebeating，horsesstamping，andtrumpetssoundingwithout。’’
TheBaronhastilydeparted，resolved，however，tocommunicatehiserrandtosomechurchman，ashefeltsomethingburdenedinconscienceattheideaofhismasterbeingattendedbyanunbeliever。
TheArchbishopofTyrewasthefirsttowhomheconfidedhisdoubts，knowinghisinterestwithhismaster，Richard，whobothlovedandhonouredthatsagaciousprelate。ThebishopheardthedoubtswhichDeVauxstated，withthatacutenessofintelligencewhichdistinguishestheRomanCatholicclergy。
ThereligiousscruplesofDeVauxhetreatedwithasmuchlightnessasproprietypermittedhimtoexhibitonsuchasubjecttoalayman。
Mediciners，’’hesaid，likethemedicineswhichtheyemployed，wereoftenuseful，thoughtheonewerebybirthormannersthevilestofhumanity，astheothersare，inmanycases，extractedfromthebasestmaterials。Menmayusetheassistanceofpagansandinfidels，’’hecontinued，intheirneed，andthereisreasontothink，thatonecauseoftheirbeingpermittedtoremainonearth，isthattheymightministertotheconvenienceoftrueChristians-Thus，welawfullymakeslavesofheathencaptives-Again，’’proceededtheprelate，thereisnodoubtthattheprimitiveChristiansusedtheservicesoftheunconvertedheathen-thus，intheshipofAlexandria，inwhichtheblessedApostlePaulsailedtoItaly，thesailorsweredoubtlesspagans；yetwhatsaidtheholysaintwhentheirministrywasneedful-`_Nisihiinnavimanserint，vossalvifierinonpotestis_-
Unlessthesemenabideintheship，yecannotbesaved。’
Again，JewsareinfidelstoChristianity，aswellasMahommedans。
ButtherearefewphysiciansinthecampexceptingJews，andsuchareemployedwithoutscandalorscruple。Therefore，Mahommedansmaybeusedfortheirserviceinthatcapacity-_quoderatdemonstrandum。_’’
ThisreasoningentirelyremovedthescruplesofThomasdeVaux，whowasparticularlymovedbytheLatinquotation，ashedidnotunderstandawordofit。
Butthebishopproceededwithfarlessfluency，whenheconsideredthepossibilityoftheSaracen’sactingwithbadfaith；
andherehecamenottoaspeedydecision。Thebaronshowedhimthelettersofcredence。Hereadandre-readthem，andcomparedtheoriginalwiththetranslation。
Itisadishchoicelycooked，’’hesaid，tothepalateofKingRichard，andIcannotbuthavemysuspicionsofthewilySaracen。Theyarecuriousintheartofpoisons，andcansotemperthemthattheyshallbeweeksinactingupontheparty，duringwhichtimetheperpetratorhasleisuretoescape。
Theycanimpregnateclothandleather，nay，evenpaperandparchment，withthemostsubtlevenom-OurLadyforgiveme！-Andwherefore，knowingthis，holdItheselettersofcredencesoclosetomyface？-Takethem，SirThomas，takethemspeedily。’’
Herehegavethematarm’s-length，andwithsomeappearanceofhaste，tothebaron，Butcome，myLorddeVaux，’’
hecontinued，wendwetothetentofthissicksquire，whereweshalllearnwhetherthisHakimhathreallytheartofcuringwhichheprofesseth，ereweconsiderwhethertherebesafetyinpermittinghimtoexercisehisartuponKingRichard-Yethold！letmefirsttakemypouncet-box，forthesefeversspreadlikeaninfection。Iwouldadviseyoutousedriedrosemarysteepedinvinegar，mylord。I，too，knowsomethingofthehealingart。’’
Ithankyourreverendlordship，’’repliedThomasofGilsland；
buthadIbeenaccessibletothefever，Ihadcaughtitlongsincebythebedofmymaster。’’
TheBishopofTyreblushed，forhehadratheravoidedthepresenceofthesickmonarch；andhebidthebaronleadon。
AstheypausedbeforethewretchedhutinwhichKennethoftheLeopardandhisfollowerabode，thebishopsaidtoDeVaux，Now，ofasurety，mylord，theseScottishknightshaveworsecareoftheirfollowersthanweofourdogs。Hereisaknight，valianttheysayinbattle，andthoughtfittingtobegracedwithchargesofweightintimeoftruce，whoseesquireofthebodyislodgedworsethanintheworstdog-kennelinEngland。Whatsayyouofyourneighbours？’’
Thatamasterdothwellenoughforhisservant，whenhelodgethhiminnoworsedwellingthanhisown，’’saidDeVaux，andenteredthehut。
Thebishopfollowed，notwithoutevidentreluctance；forthoughhelackednotcourageinsomerespects，yetitwastemperedwithastrongandlivelyregardforhisownsafety。
Herecollected，however，thenecessitytherewasforjudgingpersonallyoftheskilloftheArabianphysician，andenteredthehutwithastatelinessofmanner，calculated，ashethought，toimposerespectonthestranger。
Theprelatewas，indeed，astrikingandcommandingfigure。
Inhisyouthhehadbeeneminentlyhandsome，and，eveninage，wasunwillingtoappearlessso。Hisepiscopaldresswasoftherichestfashion，trimmedwithcostlyfur，andsurroundedbyacopeofcuriousneedle-work。Theringsonhisfingerswereworthagoodlybarony，andthehoodwhichhewore，thoughnowunclaspedandthrownbackforheat，hadstudsofpuregoldtofastenitaroundhisthroat，andunderhischinwhenhesoinclined。Hislongbeard，nowsilveredwithage，descendedoverhisbreast。Oneoftwoyouthfulacolyteswhoattendedhim，createdanartificialshade，peculiarthentotheEast，bybearingoverhisheadanumbrellaofpalmettoleaves，whiletheotherrefreshedhisreverendmasterbyagitatingafanofpeacockfeathers。
WhentheBishopofTyreenteredthehutoftheScottishknight，themasterwasabsent；andtheMoorishphysician，whomhehadcometosee，satintheverypostureinwhichDeVauxhadlefthimseveralhoursbefore，cross-leggeduponamatmadeoftwistedleaves，bythesideofthepatient，whoappearedindeepslumber，andwhosepulsehefeltfromtimetotime。Thebishopremainedstandingbeforehiminsilencefortwoorthreeminutes，asifexpectingsomehonourablesalutation，oratleastthattheSaracenwouldseemstruckwiththedignityofhisappearance。ButAdonbecelHakimtooknonoticeofhimbeyondapassingglance，andwhentheprelateatlengthsalutedhimintheLinguaFrancacurrentinthecountry，heonlyrepliedbytheordinaryOrientalgreeting，_Salamalicum_-peacebewithyou。’’