“His own life, my lord—his head, which he offers as a guarantee.”
“I have known many a resolute ruffian,” said De Vaux, “who valued his own life as little as it deserved, and would troop to the gallows as merrily as if the hangman were his partner in a dance.”
“But thus it is, my lord,” replied the Scot. “Saladin, to whom none will deny the credit of a generous and valiant enemy, hath sent this leech hither with an honourable retinue and guard, befitting the high estimation in which El Hakim [The Physician] is held by the Soldan, and with fruits and refreshments for the King's private chamber, and such message as may pass betwixt honourable enemies, praying him to be recovered of his fever, that he may be the fitter to receive a visit from the Soldan, with his naked scimitar in his hand, and a hundred thousand cavaliers at his back. Will it please you, who are of the King's secret council, to cause these camels to be discharged of their burdens, and some order taken as to the reception of the learned physician?”
“Wonderful!” said De Vaux, as speaking to himself.—“And who will vouch for the honour of Saladin, in a case when bad faith would rid him at once of his most powerful adversary?”
“I myself,” replied Sir Kenneth, “will be his guarantee, with honour, life, and fortune.”
“Strange!” again ejaculated De Vaux; “the North vouches for the South—the Scot for the Turk! May I crave of you, Sir Knight, how you became concerned in this affair?”
“I have been absent on a pilgrimage, in the course of which,” replied Sir Kenneth “I had a message to discharge towards the holy hermit of Engaddi.”
“May I not be entrusted with it, Sir Kenneth, and with the answer of the holy man?”
“It may not be, my lord,” answered the Scot.
“I am of the secret council of England,” said the Englishman haughtily.