“Know,” said she to him, when he arrived at the house, “my husband has sailed for the Holy Land; we live together; ay, and for all our lives, if you will but compass his death; for I love him not.”
“There is danger,” replied the necromancer; “but, for the sake of thee and thy love, I will endeavor to perform your wishes.”
Then took he wax and herbs, gathered at dead of night in secret places, and unguents made of unknown ingredients, and moulded a figure of the good knight, inscribing it with his name, placing it before him, against the wall of the lady’s chamber.
The good knight commenced his pilgrimage towards the Holy Land, and wist not what the lady and her lover were plotting against him and his dear life. As he descended towards the vessel in which he was to embark, he observed a man of some age, and of lofty and commanding stature, regarding him with interest. A long robe covered him, and its hood drawn over the face, concealed, in a great degree, the features of the wearer. At last the old man approached the knight.
“Good friend,” said he, “I have a secret to communicate to thee.”
“Say on, good father,” rejoined the knight, “what wouldest thou with me?”
“I would preserve thee from death.”
“Nay, father, that is in God’s hands; I fight not against his will.”
“To-day, then, thou diest; unless thou obeyest my commands:—and, listen, the lover of thy unfaithful wife is thy murderer.”
“Good sir,” replied the knight, “I perceive thou art a wise man; what shall I do to escape this sudden death?”