"No, my liege, the Scot's tale runs thus: He was dispatched to the old
hermit of Engaddi--"

"'Sdeath and hell!" said Richard, starting up, "by whom dispatched, and
for what? Who would send anyone thither when our queen was in the
convent of Engaddi?"

"The Council of the Crusade sent him, my lord," the baron answered, "but
for what purpose he declined to account to me."

"Well, it shall be looked into," said Richard. "So this envoy met with a
wandering physician at Engaddi, ha!"

"Not so, my liege, but he met a Saracen Emir, who understood that
Saladin should send his own leech to you. He is attended as if he were a
prince, and brings with him letters of credence from Saladin."

Richard took the scroll and read.

"Hold, hold," he said. "I will have no more of this dog of a prophet.
Yes, I will put myself in charge of this Hakim--I will repay the noble
Soldan his generosity--I will meet him in the field as he proposes.
Haste, De Vaux, fetch the Hakim hither."

Scarcely had De Vaux left the royal pavilion when the king, to soothe
his impatience, sent a messenger to command the attendance of the Knight
of the Leopard, that he might obtain an account of the cause of his
absence from the camp.

"Hark thee, Sir Knight," said the king, "I require you to remember that,