How，DeMulton，thou？’’saidtheKing，contractinghisbrows，andspeakinginatoneofangrysurprise，-Thoucountenancehisinsolence？-Itcannotbe。’’
　　Nay，yourMajestywillpardonmetoremindyou，thatI
　　havebymineofficerighttograntlibertytomenofgentleblood，tokeepthemahoundortwowithinthecamp，justtocherishthenobleartofvenerie；andbesides，itwereasintohavemaimedorharmedathingsonobleasthisgentleman’sdog。’’
　　Hashethenadogsohandsome？’’saidtheKing。
　　AmostperfectcreatureofHeaven，’’saidthebaron，whowasanenthusiastinfield-sports-ofthenoblestNorthernbreed-deepinthechest，stronginthestern，blackcolour，andbrindledonthebreastandlegs，notspottedwithwhite，butjustshadedintogrey-strengthtopulldownabull-swiftnesstocoteanantelope。’’
　　TheKinglaughedathisenthusiasm。Well，thouhastgivenhimleavetokeepthehound，sothereisanendofit。
　　Benot，however，liberalofyourlicencesamongthoseknightsadventurers，whohavenoprinceorleadertodependupon-theyareungovernable，andleavenogameinPalestine-Buttothispieceoflearnedheathenesse-say’stthoutheScotmethiminthedesert？’’
　　No，myliege，theScot’stalerunsthus:-HewasdespatchedtotheoldhermitofEngaddi，ofwhommentalksomuch’’-
　　’Sdeathandhell！’’saidRichard，startingup，bywhomdespatched，andforwhat？Whodaredsendanyonethither，whenourQueenwasintheConventofEngaddi，uponherpilgrimageforourrecovery？’’
　　TheCounciloftheCrusadesenthim，mylord，’’answeredtheBarondeVaux；forwhatpurposehedeclinedtoaccounttome。Ithinkitisscarceknowninthecampthatyourroyalconsortisonapilgrimage-andeventheprincesmaynothavebeenaware，astheQueenhasbeensequesteredfromcompanysinceyourloveprohibitedherattendanceincaseofinfection。’’
　　Well，itshallbelookedinto，’’saidRichard-SothisScotsman，thisenvoy，metwithawanderingphysicianatthegrottoofEngaddi-ha？’’
　　Notso，myliege，’’repliedDeVaux；buthemet，Ithink，nearthatplace，withaSaracenEmir，withwhomhehadsomemleinthewayofproofofvalour，andfindinghimworthytobearbravemencompany，theywenttogether，aserrantknightsarewont，tothegrottoofEngaddi。’’
　　HereDeVauxstopped，forhewasnotoneofthosewhocantellalongstoryinasentence。
　　Anddidtheytheremeetthephysician？’’demandedtheKing，impatiently。
　　No，myliege，’’repliedDeVaux；buttheSaracen，learningyourMajesty’sgrievousillness，undertookthatSaladinshouldsendhisownphysiciantoyou，andwithmanyassurancesofhiseminentskill；andhecametothegrottoaccordingly，aftertheScottishKnighthadtarriedadayforhimandmore。Heisattendedasifhewereaprince，withdrumsandatabals，andservantsonhorseandfoot，andbringswithhimlettersofcredencefromSaladin。’’
　　HavetheybeenexaminedbyGiacomoLoredani？’’
　　Ishowedthemtotheinterpretererebringingthemhither，andbeholdtheircontentsinEnglish。’’
　　Richardtookascroll，inwhichwereinscribedthesewords:-
　　TheblessingofAllahandhisProphetMahommed，[`Outuponthehound！’saidRichard，spittingincontempt，bywayofinterjection；]Saladin，kingofkings，SoldanofEgyptandofSyria，thelightandrefugeoftheearth，tothegreatMelechRic，RichardofEngland，greeting。Whereas，wehavebeeninformedthatthehandofsicknesshathbeenheavyuponthee，ourroyalbrother，andthatthouhastwiththeeonlysuchNazareneandJewishmediciners，asworkwithouttheblessingofAllahandourholyProphet[`Confusiononhishead！’againmutteredtheEnglishmonarch]，wehavethereforesenttotendandwaitupontheeatthistime，thephysiciantoourownperson，AdonbecelHakim，beforewhosefacetheangelAzraelspreads*TheAngelofDeath。
　　hiswingsanddepartsfromthesickchamber；whoknowsthevirtuesofherbsandstones，thepathofthesun，moon，andstars，andcansavemanfromallthatisnotwrittenonhisforehead。
　　Andthiswedo，prayingyouheartilytohonourandmakeuseofhisskill；notonlythatwemaydoservicetothyworthandvalour，whichisthegloryofallthenationsofFrangistan，butthatwemaybringthecontroversywhichisatpresentbetweenustoanend，eitherbyhonourableagreement，orbyopentrialthereofwithourweapons，inafairfield；seeingthatitneitherbecomesthyplaceandcourage，todiethedeathofaslavewhohathbeenoverwroughtbyhistaskmaster，norbefitsitourfamethatabraveadversarybesnatchedfromourweaponbysuchadisease。And，therefore，maytheholy’’-
　　Hold，hold，’’saidRichard，IwillhavenomoreofhisdogofaProphet！ItmakesmesicktothinkthevaliantandworthySoldanshouldbelieveinadeaddog-Yes，Iwillseehisphysician。IwillputmyselfintothechargeofthisHakim-IwillrepaythenobleSoldanhisgenerosity-IwillmeetSaladininthefield，ashesoworthilyproposes，andheshallhavenocausetotermRichardofEnglandungrateful。Iwillstrikehimtotheearthwithmybattle-axe-IwillconverthimtoHolyChurchwithsuchblowsashehasrarelyendured-Heshallrecanthiserrorsbeforemygoodcross-handledsword，andIwillhavehimbaptizedinthebattlefield，frommyownhelmet，thoughthecleansingwatersweremixedwiththebloodofusboth-Haste，DeVaux，whydostthoudelayaconclusionsopleasing？FetchtheHakimhither。’’
　　Mylord，’’saidthebaron，whoperhapssawsomeaccessionoffeverinthisoverflowofconfidence，-bethinkyou，theSoldanisapagan，andthatyouarehismostformidableenemy’’-
　　Forwhichreasonheisthemoreboundtodomeserviceinthismatter，lestapaltryfeverendthequarrelbetwixttwosuchkings。Itellthee，helovesmeasIlovehim-asnobleadversarieseverloveeachother-bymyhonour，itweresintodoubthisgoodfaith！’’
　　Nevertheless，mylord，itwerewelltowaittheissueofthosemedicinesupontheScottishsquire，’’saidtheLordofGilsland；myownlifedependsuponit，forworthywereItodielikeadog，didIproceedrashlyinthismatter，andmakeshipwreckofthewealofChristendom。’’
　　Ineverknewtheebeforehesitateforfearoflife，’’saidRichard，upbraidingly。
　　NorwouldInow，myliege，’’repliedthestoutheartedbaron，savethatyoursliesatpledgeaswellasmyown。’’
　　Well，thoususpiciousmortal，’’answeredRichard，begonethen，andwatchtheprogressofthisremedy。Icouldalmostwishitmighteithercureorkillme，forIamwearyoflyingherelikeanoxdyingofthemurrain，whentamboursarebeating，horsesstamping，andtrumpetssoundingwithout。’’
　　TheBaronhastilydeparted，resolved，however，tocommunicatehiserrandtosomechurchman，ashefeltsomethingburdenedinconscienceattheideaofhismasterbeingattendedbyanunbeliever。
　　TheArchbishopofTyrewasthefirsttowhomheconfidedhisdoubts，knowinghisinterestwithhismaster，Richard，whobothlovedandhonouredthatsagaciousprelate。ThebishopheardthedoubtswhichDeVauxstated，withthatacutenessofintelligencewhichdistinguishestheRomanCatholicclergy。
　　ThereligiousscruplesofDeVauxhetreatedwithasmuchlightnessasproprietypermittedhimtoexhibitonsuchasubjecttoalayman。
　　Mediciners，’’hesaid，likethemedicineswhichtheyemployed，wereoftenuseful，thoughtheonewerebybirthormannersthevilestofhumanity，astheothersare，inmanycases，extractedfromthebasestmaterials。Menmayusetheassistanceofpagansandinfidels，’’hecontinued，intheirneed，andthereisreasontothink，thatonecauseoftheirbeingpermittedtoremainonearth，isthattheymightministertotheconvenienceoftrueChristians-Thus，welawfullymakeslavesofheathencaptives-Again，’’proceededtheprelate，thereisnodoubtthattheprimitiveChristiansusedtheservicesoftheunconvertedheathen-thus，intheshipofAlexandria，inwhichtheblessedApostlePaulsailedtoItaly，thesailorsweredoubtlesspagans；yetwhatsaidtheholysaintwhentheirministrywasneedful-`_Nisihiinnavimanserint，vossalvifierinonpotestis_-
　　Unlessthesemenabideintheship，yecannotbesaved。’
　　Again，JewsareinfidelstoChristianity，aswellasMahommedans。
　　ButtherearefewphysiciansinthecampexceptingJews，andsuchareemployedwithoutscandalorscruple。Therefore，Mahommedansmaybeusedfortheirserviceinthatcapacity-_quoderatdemonstrandum。_’’
　　ThisreasoningentirelyremovedthescruplesofThomasdeVaux，whowasparticularlymovedbytheLatinquotation，ashedidnotunderstandawordofit。
　　Butthebishopproceededwithfarlessfluency，whenheconsideredthepossibilityoftheSaracen’sactingwithbadfaith；
　　andherehecamenottoaspeedydecision。Thebaronshowedhimthelettersofcredence。Hereadandre-readthem，andcomparedtheoriginalwiththetranslation。
　　Itisadishchoicelycooked，’’hesaid，tothepalateofKingRichard，andIcannotbuthavemysuspicionsofthewilySaracen。Theyarecuriousintheartofpoisons，andcansotemperthemthattheyshallbeweeksinactingupontheparty，duringwhichtimetheperpetratorhasleisuretoescape。
　　Theycanimpregnateclothandleather，nay，evenpaperandparchment，withthemostsubtlevenom-OurLadyforgiveme！-Andwherefore，knowingthis，holdItheselettersofcredencesoclosetomyface？-Takethem，SirThomas，takethemspeedily。’’
　　Herehegavethematarm’s-length，andwithsomeappearanceofhaste，tothebaron，Butcome，myLorddeVaux，’’
　　hecontinued，wendwetothetentofthissicksquire，whereweshalllearnwhetherthisHakimhathreallytheartofcuringwhichheprofesseth，ereweconsiderwhethertherebesafetyinpermittinghimtoexercisehisartuponKingRichard-Yethold！letmefirsttakemypouncet-box，forthesefeversspreadlikeaninfection。Iwouldadviseyoutousedriedrosemarysteepedinvinegar，mylord。I，too，knowsomethingofthehealingart。’’
　　Ithankyourreverendlordship，’’repliedThomasofGilsland；
　　buthadIbeenaccessibletothefever，Ihadcaughtitlongsincebythebedofmymaster。’’
　　TheBishopofTyreblushed，forhehadratheravoidedthepresenceofthesickmonarch；andhebidthebaronleadon。
　　AstheypausedbeforethewretchedhutinwhichKennethoftheLeopardandhisfollowerabode，thebishopsaidtoDeVaux，Now，ofasurety，mylord，theseScottishknightshaveworsecareoftheirfollowersthanweofourdogs。Hereisaknight，valianttheysayinbattle，andthoughtfittingtobegracedwithchargesofweightintimeoftruce，whoseesquireofthebodyislodgedworsethanintheworstdog-kennelinEngland。Whatsayyouofyourneighbours？’’
　　Thatamasterdothwellenoughforhisservant，whenhelodgethhiminnoworsedwellingthanhisown，’’saidDeVaux，andenteredthehut。
　　Thebishopfollowed，notwithoutevidentreluctance；forthoughhelackednotcourageinsomerespects，yetitwastemperedwithastrongandlivelyregardforhisownsafety。
　　Herecollected，however，thenecessitytherewasforjudgingpersonallyoftheskilloftheArabianphysician，andenteredthehutwithastatelinessofmanner，calculated，ashethought，toimposerespectonthestranger。
　　Theprelatewas，indeed，astrikingandcommandingfigure。
　　Inhisyouthhehadbeeneminentlyhandsome，and，eveninage，wasunwillingtoappearlessso。Hisepiscopaldresswasoftherichestfashion，trimmedwithcostlyfur，andsurroundedbyacopeofcuriousneedle-work。Theringsonhisfingerswereworthagoodlybarony，andthehoodwhichhewore，thoughnowunclaspedandthrownbackforheat，hadstudsofpuregoldtofastenitaroundhisthroat，andunderhischinwhenhesoinclined。Hislongbeard，nowsilveredwithage，descendedoverhisbreast。Oneoftwoyouthfulacolyteswhoattendedhim，createdanartificialshade，peculiarthentotheEast，bybearingoverhisheadanumbrellaofpalmettoleaves，whiletheotherrefreshedhisreverendmasterbyagitatingafanofpeacockfeathers。
　　WhentheBishopofTyreenteredthehutoftheScottishknight，themasterwasabsent；andtheMoorishphysician，whomhehadcometosee，satintheverypostureinwhichDeVauxhadlefthimseveralhoursbefore，cross-leggeduponamatmadeoftwistedleaves，bythesideofthepatient，whoappearedindeepslumber，andwhosepulsehefeltfromtimetotime。Thebishopremainedstandingbeforehiminsilencefortwoorthreeminutes，asifexpectingsomehonourablesalutation，oratleastthattheSaracenwouldseemstruckwiththedignityofhisappearance。ButAdonbecelHakimtooknonoticeofhimbeyondapassingglance，andwhentheprelateatlengthsalutedhimintheLinguaFrancacurrentinthecountry，heonlyrepliedbytheordinaryOrientalgreeting，_Salamalicum_-peacebewithyou。’’