Hewastakeninthecampbyoneofoursquires，and，inprivateexamination，franklyavowedhisfixedanddeterminedpurposetome，’’saidtheGrandMaster。
NowtheHeavenspardonthemwhopreventedthepurposeofthismostjudiciousCharegite！’’answeredConrade。
Heismyprisoner，’’addedtheTemplar，andsecludedfromspeechwithothers，asthoumay’stsuppose-butprisonshavebeenbroken’’-
Chainsleftunlocked，andcaptiveshaveescaped，’’answeredtheMarquis。Itisanancientsaying，-nosuredungeonbutthegrave。’’
Whenlooseheresumeshisquest，’’continuedthemilitarypriest；foritisthenatureofthissortofbloodhoundnevertoquittheslotofthepreyhehasoncescented。’’
Saynomoreofit，’’saidtheMarquis；Iseethypolicy-
itisdreadful，buttheemergencyisimminent。’’
Ionlytoldtheeofit，’’saidtheTemplar，thatthoumay’stkeepthyselfonthyguard，fortheuproarwillbedreadful，andthereisnoknowingonwhomtheEnglishmayventtheirrage-Ay，andthereisanotherrisk-mypageknowsthecounselsofthisCharegite，’’hecontinued；and，moreover，heisapeevish，self-willedfool，whomIwouldIwereridof，ashethwartsmebypresumingtoseewithhisowneyes，notmine。
ButourholyOrdergivesmepowertoputaremedytosuchinconvenience。Orstay-theSaracenmayfindagooddaggerinhiscell，andIwarrantyouheusesitashebreaksforth，whichwillbeofasuretysosoonasthepageenterswithhisfood。’’
Itwillgivetheaffairacolour，’’saidConrade；andyet’’-
_Yet_and_but，_’’saidtheTemplar，arewordsforfools-
wisemenneitherhesitatenorretract-theyresolveandtheyexecute。’’
Whenbeautyleadsthelioninhertoils，Sucharehercharms，hedarenotraisehismaneFarlessexpandtheterrorofhisfangs。
SogreatAlcidesmadehisclubadistaff，AndspuntopleasefairOmphal。
Anonymous。
Richard，theunsuspiciousobjectofthedarktreacherydetailedintheclosingpartofthelastchapter，havingeffected，forthepresentatleast，thetriumphantunionoftheCrusadingprinces，inaresolutiontoprosecutethewarwithvigour，haditnextathearttoestablishtranquillityinhisownfamily；and，nowthathecouldjudgemoretemperately，toinquiredistinctlyintothecircumstancesleadingtothelossofhisbanner，andthenatureandtheextentoftheconnectionbetwixthiskinswomanEdith，andthebanishedadventurerfromScotland。
Accordingly，theQueenandherhouseholdwerestartledwithavisitfromSirThomasdeVaux，requestingthepresentattendanceoftheLadyCalistaofMontfaucon，theQueen’sprincipalbower-woman，uponKingRichard。
WhatamItosay，madam？’’saidthetremblingattendanttotheQueen。Hewillslayusall。’’
Nay，fearnot，madam，’’saidDeVaux。HisMajestyhathsparedthelifeoftheScottishknight，whowasthechiefoffender，andbestowedhimupontheMoorishphysician-hewillnotbesevereuponalady，thoughfaulty。’’
Devisesomecunningtale，wench，’’saidBerengaria。Myhusbandhathtoolittletimetomakeinquiryintothetruth。’’
Tellthetaleasitreallyhappened，’’saidEdith，lestItellitforthee。’’
WithhumblepermissionofherMajesty，’’saidDeVaux，IwouldsayLadyEdithadvisethwell；foralthoughKingRichardispleasedtobelievewhatitpleasesyourGracetotellhim，yetIdoubthishavingthesamedeferencefortheLadyCalista，andinthisespecialmatter。’’
TheLordofGilslandisright，’’saidtheLadyCalista，muchagitatedatthethoughtsoftheinvestigationwhichwastotakeplace:and，besides，ifIhadpresenceofmindenoughtoforgeaplausiblestory，beshrewmeifIthinkIshouldhavethecouragetotellit。’’
Inthiscandidhumour，theLadyCalistawasconductedbyDeVauxtotheKing，andmade，asshehadproposed，afullconfessionofthedecoybywhichtheunfortunateKnightoftheLeopardhadbeeninducedtodeserthispost；exculpatingtheLadyEdith，who，shewasaware，wouldnotfailtoexculpateherself，andlayingthefullburdenontheQueen，hermistress，whoseshareofthefrolic，shewellknew，wouldappearthemostvenialintheeyesofCurdeLion。Intruth，Richardwasafond-almostanuxorioushusband。Thefirstburstofhiswrathhadlongsincepassedaway，andhewasnotdisposedseverelytocensurewhatcouldnotnowbeamended。ThewilyLadyCalista，accustomedfromherearliestchildhoodtofathomtheintriguesofacourt，andwatchtheindicationsofasovereign’swill，hastenedbacktotheQueenwiththespeedofalapwing，chargedwiththeKing’scommandsthatsheshouldexpectaspeedyvisitfromhim；towhichthebower-ladyaddedacommentaryfoundedonherownobservation，tendingtoshowthatRichardmeantjusttopreservesomuchseverityasmightbringhisroyalconsorttorepentofherfrolic，andthentoextendtoher，andallconcerned，hisgraciouspardon。
Sitsthewindinthatcorner，wench？’’saidtheQueen，muchrelievedbythisintelligence；believeme，that，greatcommanderasheis，Richardwillfindithardtocircumventusinthismatter；andthat，asthePyreneanshepherdsarewonttosayinmynativeNavarre，manyaonecomesforwoolandgoesbackshorn。’’
HavingpossessedherselfofalltheinformationwhichCalistacouldcommunicate，theroyalBerengariaarrayedherselfinhermostbecomingdress，andawaitedwithconfidencethearrivaloftheheroicRichard。
Hearrived，andfoundhimselfinthesituationofaprinceenteringanoffendingprovince，intheconfidencethathisbusinesswillonlybetoinflictrebuke，andreceivesubmission，whenheunexpectedlyfindsitinastateofcompletedefianceandinsurrection。Berengariawellknewthepowerofhercharms，andtheextentofRichard’saffection，andfeltassuredthatshecouldmakeherowntermsgood，nowthatthefirsttremendousexplosionofhisangerhadexpendeditselfwithoutmischief。
FarfromlisteningtotheKing’sintendedrebuke，aswhatthelevityofherconducthadjustlydeserved，sheextenuated，nay，defended，asaharmlessfrolic，thatwhichshewasaccusedof。
Shedenied，indeed，withmanyaprettyformofnegation，thatshehaddirectedNectabanusabsolutelytoenticetheknightfartherthanthebrinkoftheMountonwhichhekeptwatch-
andindeedthiswassofartrue，thatshehadnotdesignedSirKennethtobeintroducedintohertent-andthen，eloquentinurgingherowndefence，theQueenwasfarmoresoinpressinguponRichardthechargeofunkindnessinrefusinghersopooraboonasthelifeofanunfortunateknight，who，byherthoughtlessprank，hadbeenbroughtwithinthedangerofmartiallaw。
Sheweptandsobbedwhilesheenlargedonherhusband’sobduracyonthisscore，asarigourwhichhadthreatenedtomakeherunhappyforlife，wheneversheshouldreflectthatshehadgiven，unthinkingly，theremotecauseforsuchatragedy。Thevisionoftheslaughteredvictimwouldhavehauntedherdreams-nay，foraughtsheknew，sincesuchthingsoftenhappened，hisactualspectremighthavestoodbyherwakingcouch。Toallthismiseryofthemindwassheexposedbytheseverityofone，who，whilehepretendedtodoteuponherslightestglance，wouldnotforegooneactofpoorrevenge，thoughtheissuewastorenderhermiserable。
Allthisflowoffemaleeloquencewasaccompaniedwiththeusualargumentsoftearsandsighs，andutteredwithsuchtoneandaction，asseemedtoshowthattheQueen’sresentmentaroseneitherfrompridenorsullenness，butfromfeelingshurtatfindingherconsequencewithherhusbandlessthanshehadexpectedtopossess。
ThegoodKingRichardwasconsiderablyembarrassed。Hetriedinvaintoreasonwithone，whoseveryjealousyofhisaffectionrenderedherincapableoflisteningtoargument，norcouldhebringhimselftousetherestraintoflawfulauthoritytoacreaturesobeautifulinthemidstofherunreasonabledispleasure。
Hewasthereforereducedtothedefensive，endeavouredgentlytochidehersuspicions，andsootheherdispleasure，andrecalledtohermindthatsheneednotlookbackuponthepastwithrecollectionseitherofremorseorsupernaturalfear，sinceSirKennethwasaliveandwell，andhadbeenbestowedbyhimuponthegreatArabianphysician，who，doubtless，ofallmen，knewbesthowtokeephimliving。Butthisseemedtheunkindestcutofall，andtheQueen’ssorrowwasrenewedattheideaofaSaracen-amediciner-obtainingaboonforwhich，withbarehead，andonbendedknee，shehadpetitionedherhusbandinvain。Atthisnewcharge，Richard’spatiencebeganrathertogiveway，andhesaid，inaserioustoneofvoice，Berengaria，thephysiciansavedmylife。Ifitisofvalueinyoureyes，youwillnotgrudgehimahigherrecompensethantheonlyoneIcouldprevailonhimtoaccept。’’
TheQueenwassatisfiedshehadurgedhercoquettishdispleasuretothevergeofsafety。
MyRichard，’’shesaid，whybroughtyounotthatsagetome，thatEngland’sQueenmightshowhowsheesteemedhimwhocouldsavefromextinctionthelampofchivalry，thegloryofEngland，andthelightofpoorBerengaria’slifeandhope？’’
Inaword，thematrimonialdisputewasended；but，thatsomepenaltymightbepaidtojustice，bothKingandQueenaccordedinlayingthewholeblameontheagentNectabanus，whotheQueenbeingbythistimewellwearyofthepoordwarf’shumourwas，withhisroyalconsortGuenevra，sentencedtobebanishedfromthecourt；andtheunluckydwarfonlyescapedasupplementarywhipping，fromtheQueen’sassurancesthathehadalreadysustainedpersonalchastisement。
Itwasdecreedfarther，thatasanenvoywasshortlytobedespatchedtoSaladin，acquaintinghimwiththeresolutionoftheCounciltoresumehostilitiessosoonasthetrucewasended，andasRichardproposedtosendavaluablepresenttotheSoldan，inacknowledgmentofthehighbenefithehadderivedfromtheservicesofElHakim，thetwounhappycreaturesshouldbeaddedtoitascuriosities，which，fromtheirextremelygrotesqueappearance，andtheshatteredstateoftheirintellect，weregiftsthatmightwellpassbetweensovereignandsovereign。
Richardhadthatdayyetanotherfemaleencountertosustain；
butheadvancedtoitwithcomparativeindifference，forEdith，thoughbeautiful，andhighlyesteemedbyherroyalrelative-nay，althoughshehadfromhisunjustsuspicionsactuallysustainedtheinjuryofwhichBerengariaonlyaffectedtocomplain，stillwasneitherRichard’swifenormistress，andhefearedherreproachesless，althoughfoundedinreason，thanthoseoftheQueen，thoughunjustandfantastical。Havingrequestedtospeakwithherapart，hewasusheredintoherapartment，adjoiningthatoftheQueen，whosetwofemaleCoptishslavesremainedontheirkneesinthemostremotecornerduringtheinterview。
Athinblackveilextendeditsamplefoldsoverthetallandgracefulformofthehigh-bornmaiden，andsheworenotuponherpersonanyfemaleornamentofwhatkindsoever。ShearoseandmadealowreverencewhenRichardenteredresumedherseatathiscommand，and，whenhesatdownbesideher，waited，withoututteringasyllable，untilheshouldcommunicatehispleasure。
Richard，whosecustomitwastobefamiliarwithEdith，astheirrelationshipauthorised，feltthisreceptionchilling，andopenedtheconversationwithsomeembarrassment。
Ourfaircousin，’’heatlengthsaid，isangrywithus；
andweownthatstrongcircumstanceshaveinducedus，withoutcause，tosuspectherofconductalientowhatwehaveeverknowninhercourseoflife。Butwhilewewalkinthismistyvalleyofhumanity，menwillmistakeshadowsforsubstances。
Canmyfaircousinnotforgivehersomewhatvehementkinsman，Richard？’’
Whocanrefuseforgivenessto_Richard，_’’answeredEdith，providedRichardcanobtainpardonofthe_King？_’’
Come，mykinswoman，’’repliedCurdeLion，thisisalltoosolemn。ByOurLady，suchamelancholycountenance，andthisamplesableveil，mightmakementhinkthouwertanew-madewidow，orhadlostabetrothedlover，atleast。Cheerup-thouhasthearddoubtlessthatthereisnorealcauseforwoe-whythenkeepuptheformofmourning？’’
ForthedepartedhonourofPlantagenet-fortheglorywhichhathleftmyfather’shouse。’’
Richardfrowned。Departedhonour！glorywhichhathleftourhouse！’’herepeated，angrily；butmycousinEdithisprivileged。Ihavejudgedhertoohastily，shehasthereforearighttodeemofmetooharshly。ButtellmeatleastinwhatIhavefaulted。’’
Plantagenet，’’saidEdith，shouldhaveeitherpardonedanoffence，orpunishedit。Itmisbecomeshimtoassignfreemen，Christiansandbraveknights，tothefettersoftheinfidels。Itbecomeshimnottocompromiseandbarter，ortograntlifeundertheforfeitureofliberty。Tohavedoomedtheunfortunatetodeathmighthavebeenseverity，buthadashowofjustice；tocondemnhimtoslaveryandexile，wasbarefacedtyranny。’’
Isee，myfaircousin，’’saidRichard，youareofthoseprettyoneswhothinkanabsentloverasbadasnone，orasadeadone。Bepatient；half-a-scoreoflighthorsemenmayyetfollowandredeemtheerror，ifthygallanthaveinkeepinganysecretwhichmightrenderhisdeathmoreconvenientthanhisbanishment。’’