from taking
whatever means were most promising to discover the infamous author of
the attack on my honour. Ere I had done so, I would have renounced my
kingdom, my life. All my declarations were under this necessary and
absolute qualification;--only, if Austria had stepped forth and owned
the injury like a man, I proffered, for the sake of Christendom, to have
forgiven HIM."

"But," continued the baron anxiously, "what hope that this juggling
slave of Saladin will not palter with your Grace?"

"Peace, Neville," said the King; "thou thinkest thyself mighty wise, and
art but a fool. Mind thou my charge touching this fellow; there is
more in him than thy Westmoreland wit can fathom.--And thou, smart and
silent, prepare to perform the feat thou hast promised, and, by the
word of a King, thou shalt choose thine own recompense.--Lo, he writes
again."

The mute accordingly wrote and delivered to the King, with the same form
as before, another slip of paper, containing these words, "The will of
the King is the law to his slave; nor doth it become him to ask guerdon
for discharge of his devoir."

"GUERDON and DEVOIR!" said the King, interrupting himself as he read,
and speaking to Neville in the English tongue with some emphasis on
the words. "These Eastern people will profit by the Crusaders--they are
acquiring the language of chivalry! And see, Neville, how discomposed
that fellow looks! were it not for his colour he would blush. I should
not think it strange if he understood what I say--they are perilous
linguists."

"The poor slave cannot endure your Grace's eye," said Neville; "it is
nothing more."

"Well, but," continued the King, striking the paper with his finger as
he proceeded, "this bold scroll proceeds to say that our trusty mute is
charged with a message from Saladin to the Lady Edith Plantagenet, and
craves means and opportunity to deliver it. What thinkest thou of a
request so modest--ha, Neville?"

"I cannot say," said Neville, "how such freedom may relish with your
Grace; but the lease of the messenger's neck would be a short one, who
should carry such a request to the Soldan on the part of your Majesty."

"Nay, I thank Heaven that I covet none of his sunburnt beauties," said
Richard; "and for punishing this fellow for discharging his master's
errand, and that when he has just saved my life--methinks it were
something too summary. I'll tell thee, Neville, a secret; for although
our sable and mute mini