danger which, rashly taking such a high matter upon your sole
answer, you may else most likely incur."

"My lords," said El Hakim, "I understand you well. But knowledge
hath its champions as well as your military art--nay, hath
sometimes had its martyrs as well as religion. I have the
command of my sovereign, the Soldan Saladin, to heal this
Nazarene King, and, with the blessing of the Prophet, I will obey
his commands. If I fail, ye wear swords thirsting for the blood
of the faithful, and I proffer my body to your weapons. But I
will not reason with one uncircumcised upon the virtue of the
medicines of which I have obtained knowledge through the grace of
the Prophet, and I pray you interpose no delay between me and my
office."

"Who talks of delay?" said the Baron de Vaux, hastily entering
the tent; "we have had but too much already. I salute you, my
Lord of Montserrat, and you, valiant Grand Master. But I must
presently pass with this learned physician to the bedside of my
master."

"My lord," said the Marquis, in Norman-French, or the language of
Ouie, as it was then called, "are you well advised that we came
to expostulate, on the part of the Council of the Monarchs and
Princes of the Crusade, against the risk of permitting an infidel
and Eastern physician to tamper with a health so valuable as that
of your master, King Richard?"

"Noble Lord Marquis," replied the Englishman bluntly, "I can
neither use many words, nor do I delight in listening to them;