Meantime，eventshadtakenplaceverycontrarytothesuppositionswhichThomasdeVauxhadentertained。Scarcehadhelefttheroyalpavilion，when，betwixttheimpatienceofthefever，andthatwhichwasnaturaltohisdisposition，Richardbegantomurmurathisdelay，andexpressanearnestdesireforhisreturn。Hehadseenenoughtotrytoreasonhimselfoutofthisirritation，whichgreatlyincreasedhisbodilymalady。Heweariedhisattendantsbydemandingfromthemamusements，andthebreviaryofthepriest，theromanceoftheclerk，eventheharpofhisfavouriteminstrel，werehadrecoursetoinvain。Atlength，sometwohoursbeforesundown，andlong，therefore，erehecouldexpectasatisfactoryaccountoftheprocessofthecurewhichtheMoororArabianhadundertaken，hesent，aswehavealreadyheard，amessenger，commandingtheattendanceoftheKnightoftheLeopard，determinedtosoothehisimpatiencebyobtainingfromSirKennethamoreparticularaccountofthecauseofhisabsencefromthecamp，andthecircumstancesofhismeetingwiththiscelebratedphysician。
TheScottishknight，thussummoned，enteredtheroyalpresence，asonewhowasnostrangertosuchscenes。HewasscarcelyknowntotheKingofEngland，evenbysight，although，tenaciousofhisrank，asdevoutintheadorationoftheladyofhissecretheart，hehadneverbeenabsentonthoseoccasionswhenthemunificenceandhospitalityofEnglandopenedtheCourtofitsmonarchtoallwhoheldacertainrankinchivalryTheKinggazedfixedlyonSirKennethapproachinghisbedside，whiletheknightbenthiskneeforamoment，thenarose，andstoodbeforehiminapostureofdeference，butnotofsubservienceorhumility，asbecameanofficerinthepresenceofhissovereign。
Thyname，’’saidtheKing，isKennethoftheLeopard-
Fromwhomhadstthoudegreeofknighthood？’’
ItookitfromtheswordofWilliamtheLion，KingofScotland，’’repliedtheScot。
Aweapon，’’saidtheKing，wellworthytoconferhonour，norhasitbeenlaidonanundeservingshoulder。Wehaveseentheebearthyselfknightlyandvaliantlyinpressofbattle，whenmostneedtherewas；andthouhadstnotbeenyettolearnthatthydesertswereknowntous，butthatthypresumptioninotherpointshasbeensuch，thatthyservicescanchallengenobetterrewardthanthatofpardonforthytransgression。Whatsayestthou-ha？’’
Kennethattemptedtospeak，butwasunabletoexpresshimselfdistinctly；theconsciousnessofhistooambitiouslove，andthekeenfalconglancewithwhichCurdeLionseemedtopenetratehisinmostsoul，combiningtodisconcerthim。
Andyet，’’saidtheKing，althoughsoldiersshouldobeycommand，andvassalsberespectfultowardstheirsuperiors，wemightforgiveabraveknightgreateroffencethanthekeepingasimplehound，thoughitwerecontrarytoourexpresspublicordinance。’’
RichardkepthiseyefixedontheScot’sface，beheld，andbeholding，smiledinwardlyatthereliefproducedbytheturnhehadgiventohisgeneralaccusation。
Sopleaseyou，mylord，’’saidtheScot，yourMajestymustbegoodtouspoorgentlemenofScotlandinthismatter。
Wearefarfromhome，scantofrevenues，andcannotsupportourselvesasyourwealthynobles，whohavecreditoftheLombards。
TheSaracensshallfeelourblowstheharderthatweeatapieceofdriedvenisonfromtimetotime，withourherbsandbarley-cakes。’’
Itskillsnotaskingmyleave，’’saidRichard，sinceThomasdeVaux，whodoth，likeallaroundme，thatwhichisfittestinhisowneyes，hathalreadygiventheepermissionforhuntingandhawking。’’
Forhuntingonly，andpleaseyou，’’saidtheScot；butifitpleaseyourMajestytoindulgemewiththeprivilegeofhawkingalso，andyoulisttotrustmewithafalcononfist，ItrustIcouldsupplyyourroyalmesswithsomechoicewater-fowl。’’
Idreadme，ifthouhadstbutthefalcon，’’saidtheKing，thouwouldstscarcewaitforthepermission。IwotwellitissaidabroadthatweofthelineofAnjouresentoffenceagainstourforestlaws，ashighlyaswewoulddotreasonagainstourcrown。Tobraveandworthymen，however，wecouldpardoneithermisdemeanour-Butenoughofthis-Idesiretoknowofyou，SirKnight，wherefore，andbywhoseauthority，youtookthisrecentjourneytothewildernessoftheDeadSea，andEngaddi？’’
Byorder，’’repliedtheknight，oftheCouncilofPrincesoftheHolyCrusade。’’
Andhowdaredanyonetogivesuchanorder，whenI-nottheleast，surely，intheleague-wasunacquaintedwithit？’’
Itwasnotmypart，pleaseyourhighness，’’saidtheScot，toinquireintosuchparticulars。IamasoldieroftheCross-serving，doubtless，forthepresent，underyourhighness’sbanner，andproudofthepermissiontodoso-butstill，onewhohathtakenonhimtheholysymbolfortherightsofChristianity，andtherecoveryoftheHolySepulchre，andbound，therefore，toobey，withoutquestion，theordersoftheprincesandchiefsbywhomtheblessedenterpriseisdirected。
Thatindispositionshouldseclude，Itrustforbutashorttime，yourhighnessfromtheircouncils，inwhichyouholdsopotentialavoice，ImustlamentwithallChristendom；but，asasoldier，Imustobeythoseonwhomthelawfulrightofcommanddevolves，orsetbutanevilexampleintheChristiancamp。’’
Thousay’stwell，’’saidKingRichard；andtheblamerestsnotwiththee，butwiththosewithwhom，whenitshallpleaseHeaventoraisemefromthisaccursedbedofpainandinactivity，Ihopetoreckonroundly。Whatwasthepurportofthymessage？’’
Methinks，andpleaseyourhighness，’’repliedSirKenneth，thatwerebestaskedofthosewhosentme，andwhocanrenderthereasonsofmineerrand；whereasIcanonlytellitsoutwardformandpurport。’’
Palternotwithme，SirScot-itwereillforthysafety，’’
saidtheirritablemonarch。
Mysafety，mylord，’’repliedtheknightfirmly，IcastbehindmeasaregardlessthingwhenIvowedmyselftothisenterprise，lookingrathertomyimmortalwelfare，thantothatwhichconcernsmyearthlybody。’’
Bythemass，’’saidKingRichard，thouartabravefellow！
Harkthee，SirKnight，IlovetheScottishpeople；theyarehardy，thoughdoggedandstubborn，and，Ithink，truemeninthemain，thoughthenecessityofstatehassometimesconstrainedthemtobedissemblers。Ideservesomeloveattheirhand，forIhavevoluntarilydonewhattheycouldnotbyarmshaveextortedfromme，anymorethanfrommypredecessors-Ihavere-establishedthefortressesofRoxburghandBerwick，whichlayinpledgetoEngland-Ihaverestoredyourancientboundaries-andfinally，IhaverenouncedaclaimtohomageuponthecrownofEngland，whichIthoughtunjustlyforcedonyou。Ihaveendeavouredtomakehonourableandindependentfriends，whereformerkingsofEnglandattemptedonlytocompelunwillingandrebelliousvassals。’’
Allthisyouhavedone，myLordKing，’’saidSirKenneth，bowing-AllthisyouhavedonebyyourroyaltreatywithoursovereignatCanterbury。Thereforehaveyoume，andmanybetterScotsmen，makingwaragainsttheinfidelsunderyourbanners，whowouldelsehavebeenravagingyourfrontiersinEngland。Iftheirnumbersarenowfew，itisbecausetheirliveshavebeenfreelywagedandwasted。’’
Igrantittrue，’’saidtheKing；andforthegoodofficesI
havedoneyourland，Irequireyoutoremember，that，asaprincipalmemberoftheChristianleague，Ihavearighttoknowthenegotiationsofmyconfederates。Dome，therefore，thejusticetotellmewhatIhaveatitletobeacquaintedwith，andwhichIamcertaintoknowmoretrulyfromyouthanfromothers。’’
Mylord，’’saidtheScot，thusconjured，Iwillspeakthetruth；forIwellbelievethatyourpurposestowardstheprincipalobjectofourexpeditionaresingle-heartedandhonest；anditismorethanIdarewarrantforothersoftheHolyLeague。
Bepleased，therefore，toknow，mychargewastopropose，throughthemediumofthehermitofEngaddi-aholyman，respectedandprotectedbySaladinhimself’’-
Acontinuationofthetruce，Idoubtnot，’’saidRichard，hastilyinterruptinghim。
No，bySaintAndrew，myliege，’’saidtheScottishknight，buttheestablishmentofalastingpeace，andthewithdrawingourarmiesfromPalestine。’’
SaintGeorge！’’saidRichard，inastonishment-IllasI
havejustlythoughtofthem，Icouldnothavedreamedtheywouldhavehumbledthemselvestosuchdishonour。Speak，SirKenneth，withwhatwilldidyoucarrysuchamessage？’’
Withrightgoodwill，mylord，’’saidKenneth；because，whenwehadlostournobleleader，underwhoseguidancealoneIhopedforvictory，Isawnonewhocouldsucceedhimlikelytoleadustoconquest，andIaccounteditwellinsuchcircumstancestoavoiddefeat。’’
Andonwhatconditionswasthishopefulpeacetobecontracted？’’
saidKingRichard，painfullysuppressingthepassionwithwhichhisheartwasalmostbursting。
Thesewerenotintrustedtome，mylord，’’answeredtheKnightoftheCouchantLeopard。Ideliveredthemsealedtothehermit。’’
Andforwhatholdyouthisreverendhermit？-forfool，madman，traitor，orsaint？’’saidRichard。
Hisfolly，sire，’’repliedtheshrewdScotsman，IholdtobeassumedtowinfavourandreverencefromthePaynimrie，whoregardmadmenastheinspiredofHeaven；atleastitseemedtomeasexhibitedonlyoccasionally，andnota’smixing，likenaturalfolly，withthegeneraltenorofhismind。’’
Shrewdlyreplied，’’saidthemonarch，throwinghimselfbackonhiscouch，fromwhichhehadhalf-raisedhimself-Nowofhispenitence？’’
Hispenitence，’’continuedKenneth，appearstomesincere，andthefruitsofremorseforsomedreadfulcrime，forwhichheseems，inhisownopinion，condemnedtoreprobation。’’
Andforhispolicy？’’saidKingRichard。
Methinks，mylord，’’saidtheScottishknight，hedespairsofthesecurityofPalestine，asofhisownsalvation，byanymeansshortofamiracle-atleastsincethearmofRichardofEnglandhathceasedtostrikeforit。’’
Andtherefore，thecowardpolicyofthishermitislikethatofthesemiserableprinces，who，forgetfuloftheirknighthoodandtheirfaith，areonlyresolvedanddeterminedwhenthequestionisretreat，and，ratherthangoforwardagainstanarmedSaracen，wouldtrampleintheirflightoveradyingally！’’
MightIsofarpresume，myLordKing，’’saidtheScottishknight，thisdiscoursebutheatsyourdisease，theenemyfromwhichChristendomdreadsmoreevil，thanfromarmedhostsofinfidels。’’
ThecountenanceofKingRichardwas，indeed，moreflushed，andhisactionbecamemorefeverishlyvehement，as，withclenchedhand，expandedarm，andflashingeyes，heseemedatoncetosufferunderbodilypain，andatthesametimeundervexationofmind，whilehishighspiritledhimtospeakon，asifincontemptofboth。
Youcanflatter，SirKnight，’’hesaid，butyouescapemenot。Imustknowmorefromyouthanyouhaveyettoldme。
SawyoumyroyalconsortwhenatEngaddi？’’
Tomyknowledge-no，mylord，’’repliedSirKenneth，withconsiderableperturbation；forherememberedthemidnightprocessioninthechapeloftherocks。
Iaskyou，’’saidtheKing，inasternervoice，whetheryouwerenotinthechapeloftheCarmelitenunsatEngaddi，andtheresawBerengaria，QueenofEngland，andtheladiesofherCourt，whowentthitheronpilgrimage？’’
Mylord，’’saidSirKenneth，Iwillspeakthetruthasintheconfessional。Inasubterraneanchapel，towhichtheanchoriteconductedme，Ibeheldachoirofladiesdohomagetoarelicofthehighestsanctity；butasIsawnottheirfaces，norheardtheirvoices，unlessinthehymnswhichtheychanted，IcannottellwhethertheQueenofEnglandwasofthebevy。’’
Andwastherenooneoftheseladiesknowntoyou？’’
SirKennethstoodsilent。
Iaskyou，’’saidRichard，raisinghimselfonhiselbow，asaknightandagentleman，andIshallknowbyyouranswerhowyouvalueeithercharacter-didyouordidyounotknowanyladyamongstthatbandofworshippers？’’
Mylord，’’saidKenneth，notwithoutmuchhesitation，I
mightguess。’’