Abendofthebody，andagenuflection，weretheappropriateansweroftheEthiopiantotheseobservations。
　　Andnowtoanotherpoint，’’saidtheKing，andspeakingsuddenlyandrapidly-HaveyouyetseenEdithPlantagenet？’’
　　Themutelookedupasintheactofbeingabouttospeak，-nay，hislipshadbeguntoutteradistinctnegative，whentheabortiveattemptdiedawayintheimperfectmurmursofthedumb。
　　Why，loyouthere！’’saidtheKing。Theverysoundofthenameofaroyalmaiden，ofbeautysosurpassingasthatofourlovelycousin，seemstohavepowerenoughwell-nightomakethedumbspeak。Whatmiraclesthenmighthereyeworkuponsuchasubject！Iwillmaketheexperiment，friendslave。Thoushaltseethischoicebeautyofourcourt，anddotheerrandoftheprincelySoldan。’’
　　Againajoyfulglance-againagenuflection-but，ashearose，theKinglaidhishandheavilyonhisshoulder，andproceededwithsterngravitythus-Letmeinonethingwarnyou，mysableenvoy。Evenifthoushouldstfeelthatthekindlyinfluenceofher，whomthouartsoontobehold，shouldloosenthebondsofthytongue，presentlyimprisoned，asthegoodSoldanexpressesit，withintheivorywallsofitscastle，bewarehowthouchangestthytaciturncharacter，orspeakestawordinherpresence，evenifthypowersofutteranceweretobemiraculouslyrestored。
　　Believeme，thatIshouldhavethytongueextractedbytheroots，anditsivorypalace，thatis，Ipresume，itsrangeofteeth，drawnoutonebyone。Wherefore，bewiseandsilentstill。’’
　　TheNubian，sosoonastheKinghadremovedhisheavygraspfromhisshoulder，benthishead，andlaidhishandonhislips；
　　intokenofsilentobedience。
　　ButRichardagainlaidhishandonhimmoregently，andadded，Thisbehestwelayontheeasonaslave。Wertthouknightandgentleman，wewouldrequirethinehonourinpledgeofthysilence，whichisoneespecialconditionofourpresenttrust。’’
　　TheEthiopianraisedhisbodyproudly，lookedfullattheKing，andlaidhisrighthandonhisheart。
　　Richardthensummonedhischamberlain。
　　Go，Neville，’’hesaid，withthisslave，tothetentofourroyalconsort，andsayitisourpleasurethathehaveanaudience-aprivateaudience-ofourcousinEdith。Heischargedwithacommissiontoher。Thoucanstshowhimthewayalso，incaseherequiresthyguidance，thoughthouway’sthaveobserveditiswonderfulhowfamiliarhealreadyseemstobewiththepurlieusofourcamp-Andthou，too，friendEthiop，’’theKingcontinued，whatthoudost，doquickly，andreturnhitherwithinthehalf-hour。’’
　　Istanddiscovered，’’thoughttheseemingNubian，as，withdowncastlooksandfoldedarms，hefollowedthehastystrideofNevilletowardsthetentofQueenBerengaria-IstandundoubtedlydiscoveredandunfoldedtoKingRichard；yetI
　　cannotperceivethathisresentmentishotagainstme。IfI
　　understoodhiswords，andsurelyitisimpossibletomisinterpretthem，hegivesmeanoblechanceofredeemingmyhonouruponthecrestofthisfalseMarquis，whoseguiltIreadinhiscraveneyeandquiveringlip，whenthechargewasmadeagainsthim-
　　Roswal，faithfullyhastthouservedthymaster，andmostdearlyshallthywrongbeavenged！-Butwhatisthemeaningofmypresentpermissiontolookuponher，whomIhaddespairedevertoseeagain？-Andwhy，orhow，cantheroyalPlantagenetconsentthatIshouldseehisdivinekinswoman，eitherasthemessengeroftheheathenSaladin，orastheguiltyexilewhomhesolatelyexpelledfromhiscamp-hisaudaciousavowaloftheaffectionwhichishispride，beingthegreatestenhancementofhisguilt？ThatRichardshouldconsenttoherreceivingaletterfromaninfidellover，bythehandsofoneofsuchdisproportionedrank，areeitherofthemcircumstancesequallyincredible，and，atthesametime，inconsistentwitheachother。ButRichard，whenunmovedbyhisheadypassions，isliberal，generous，andtrulynoble，andassuchIwilldealwithhim，andactaccordingtohisinstructions，directorimplied，seekingtoknownomorethanmaygraduallyunfolditselfwithoutmyofficiousinquiry。
　　Tohimwhohasgivenmesobraveanopportunitytovindicatemytarnishedhonour，Ioweacquiescenceandobedience，and，painfulasitmaybe，thedebtshallbepaid。Andyet，’’thustheproudswellingofhisheartfarthersuggested，-CurdeLion，asheiscalled，mighthavemeasuredthefeelingsofothersbyhisown。_I_urgeanaddresstohiskinswoman！_I，_whoneverspokewordtoherwhenItookaroyalprizefromherhand-whenIwasaccountednotthelowestinfeatsofchivalryamongthedefendersoftheCross！_I_approachherwheninabasedisguise，andinaservilehabit-and，alas！whenmyactualconditionisthatofaslave，withaspotofdishonouronthatwhichwasoncemyshield！_I_dothis！Helittleknowsme。YetI
　　thankhimfortheopportunitywhichmaymakeusallbetteracquaintedwitheachother。’’
　　Ashearrivedatthisconclusion，theypausedbeforetheentranceoftheQueen’spavilion。
　　Theywereofcourseadmittedbytheguards，andNeville，leavingtheNubianinasmallapartment，orantechamber，whichwasbuttoowellrememberedbyhim，passedintothatwhichwasusedastheQueen’spresence-chamber。Hecommunicatedhisroyalmaster’spleasureinalowandrespectfultoneofvoice，verydifferentfromthebluntnessofThomasdeVaux，towhomRichardwaseverything，andtherestofthecourt，includingBerengariaherself，wasnothing。Aburstoflaughterfollowedthecommunicationofhiserrand。
　　AndwhatlikeistheNubianslave，whocomesambassadoronsuchanerrandfromtheSoldan？-aNegro，DeNeville，ishenot？’’saidafemalevoiceeasilyrecognisedforthatofBerengaria。ANegro，ishenot，DeNeville，withblackskin，aheadcurledlikearam’s，aflatnose，andblubberlips-ha，worthySirHenry？’’
　　LetnotyourGraceforgettheshin-bones，’’saidanothervoice，bentoutwardsliketheedgeofaSaracenscimitar。’’
　　RatherlikethebowofaCupid，sincehecomesuponalover’serrand，’’saidtheQueen。GentleNeville，thouarteverprompttopleasureuspoorwomen，whohavesolittletopassawayouridlemoments。Wemustseethismessengeroflove。TurksandMoorshaveIseenmany，butNegronever。’’
　　IamcreatedtoobeyyourGrace’scommands，soyouwillbearmeoutwithmysovereignfordoingso，’’answeredthedebonairknight。Yet，letmeassureyourGrace，youwillseesomewhatdifferentfromwhatyouexpect。’’
　　Somuchthebetter-uglieryetthanourimaginationscanfancy，yetthechosenlove-messengerofthisgallantSoldan！’’
　　Graciousmadam，’’saidtheLadyCalista，mayIimploreyouwouldpermitthegoodknighttocarrythismessengerstraighttotheLadyEdith，towhomhiscredentialsareaddressed？Wehavealreadyescapedhardlyforsuchafrolic。’’
　　Escaped？’’-repeatedtheQueen，scornfully。Yetthoumay’stberight，Calista，inthycaution-letthisNubian，asthoucallesthim，firstdohiserrandtoourcousin-Besides，heismutetoo-ishenot？’’
　　Heis，graciousmadam，’’answeredtheknight。
　　RoyalsporthavetheseEasternladies，’’saidBerengaria，attendedbythosebeforewhomtheymaysayanything，yetwhocanreportnothing。Whereas，inourcamp，asthePrelateofSt。Jude’siswonttosay，abirdoftheairwillcarrythematter。’’
　　Because，’’saidDeNeville，yourGraceforgetsthatyouspeakwithincanvaswalls。’’
　　Thevoicessunkonthisobservation，andafteralittlewhispering，theEnglishknightagainreturnedtotheEthiopian，andmadehimasigntofollow。Hedidso，andNevilleconductedhimtoapavilion，pitchedsomewhatapartfromthatoftheQueen，fortheaccommodation，itseemed，oftheLadyEdithandherattendants。OneofherCopticmaidensreceivedthemessagecommunicatedbySirHenryNeville，and，inthespaceofaveryfewminutes，theNubianwasusheredintoEdith’spresence，whileNevillewasleftontheoutsideofthetent。Theslavewhointroducedhimwithdrewonasignalfromhermistress，anditwaswithhumiliation，notofthepostureonly，butoftheveryinmostsoul，thattheunfortunateknight，thusstrangelydisguised，threwhimselfononeknee，withlooksbentontheground，andarmsfoldedonhisbosom，likeacriminalwhoexpectshisdoom。EdithwascladinthesamemanneraswhenshereceivedKingRichard，herlongtransparentdarkveilhangingaroundherliketheshadeofasummernightonabeautifullandscape，disguisingandrenderingobscurethebeautieswhichitcouldnothide。Sheheldinherhandasilverlamp，fedwithsomearomaticspirit，whichburnedwithunusualbrightness。
　　WhenEdithcamewithinastepofthekneelingandmotionlessslave，sheheldthelighttowardshisface，asiftoperusehisfeaturesmoreattentively，thenturnedfromhim，andplacedherlampsoastothrowtheshadowofhisfaceinprofileuponthecurtainwhichhungbeside。Sheatlengthspokeinavoicecomposed，yetdeeplysorrowful。
　　Isityou？-Isitindeedyou，braveKnightoftheLeopard-
　　gallantSirKennethofScotland-isitindeedyou？-thusservilelydisguised-thussurroundedbyanhundreddangers？’’
　　Athearingthetonesofhislady’svoicethusunexpectedlyaddressedtohim，andinatoneofcompassionapproachingtotenderness，acorrespondingreplyrushedtotheknight’slips，andscarcecouldRichard’scommandsandhisownpromisedsilencepreventhisanswering，thatthesighthesaw，thesoundshejustbeard，weresufficienttorecompensetheslaveryofalife，anddangerswhichthreatenedthatlifeeveryhour。
　　He_did_recollecthimself，however，andadeepandimpassionedsighwashisonlyreplytothehigh-bornEdith’squestion。
　　Isee-IknowIhaveguessedright’’-continuedEdith，ImarkedyoufromyourfirstappearanceneartheplatformonwhichIstoodwiththeQueen。Iknew，too，yourvalianthound。
　　Sheisnotruelady，andisunworthyoftheserviceofsuchaknightasthouart，fromwhomdisguisesofdressorhuecouldconcealafaithfulservant。Speak，then，withoutfeartoEdithPlantagenet。Sheknowshowtograceinadversitythegoodknightwhoserved，honoured，anddiddeedsofarmsinhername，whenfortunebefriendedhim-Stillsilent！Isitfearorshamethatkeepstheeso？Fearshouldbeunknowntothee；
　　andforshame，letitremainwiththosewhohavewrongedthee。’’
　　Theknight，indespairatbeingobligedtoplaythemuteinaninterviewsointeresting，couldonlyexpresshismortificationbysighingdeeply，andlayinghisfingeruponhislips。Edithsteppedback，asifsomewhatdispleased。
　　What！’’shesaid，theAsiaticmuteinverydeed，aswellasinattire？ThisIlookednotfor-Orthoumaystscornme，perhaps，forthusboldlyacknowledgingthatIhaveheedfullyobservedthehomagethouhastpaidme？HoldnounworthythoughtsofEdithonthataccount。Sheknowswelltheboundswhichreserveandmodestyprescribetohigh-bornmaidens，andsheknowswhenandhowfartheyshouldgiveplacetogratitude-toasinceredesirethatitwereinherpowertorepayservicesandrepairinjuries，arisingfromthedevotionwhichagoodknightboretowardsher-Whyfoldthyhandstogether，andwringthemwithsomuchpassion？-Canitbe，’’
　　sheadded，shrinkingbackattheidea-thattheircrueltyhasactuallydeprivedtheeofspeech？Thoushakestthyhead。
　　Beitaspell-beitobstinacy，Iquestiontheenofarther，butleavetheetodothineerrandafterthineownfashion。Ialsocanbemute。’’
　　Thedisguisedknightmadeanactionasifatoncelamentinghisowncondition，anddeprecatingherdispleasure，whileatthesametimehepresentedtoher，wrapped，asusual，infinesilkandclothofgold，theletteroftheSoldan。Shetookit，surveyeditcarelessly，thenlaiditaside，andbendinghereyesoncemoreontheknight，shesaidinalowtone-Notevenawordtodothineerrandtome？’’
　　Hepressedbothhishandstohisbrow，asiftointimatethepainwhichhefeltatbeingunabletoobeyher；butsheturnedfromhiminanger。
　　Begone！’’shesaid。Ihavespokenenough-toomuch-
　　toonewhowillnotwasteonmeawordinreply。Begone！-
　　andsayifIhavewrongedthee，Ihavedonepenance；forifI
　　havebeentheunhappymeansofdraggingtheedownfromastationofhonour，Ihave，inthisinterview，forgottenmyownworth，andloweredmyselfinthyeyesandinmyown。’’
　　Shecoveredhereyeswithherhand，andseemeddeeplyagitated。SirKennethwouldhaveapproached，butshewavedhimback。
　　Standoff！thouwhosesoulHeavenhathsuitedtoitsnewstation！Aughtlessdullandfearfulthanaslavishmutehadspokenawordofgratitude，wereitbuttoreconcilemetomyowndegradation。Whypauseyou？-begone！’’
　　Thedisguisedknightalmostinvoluntarilylookedtowardstheletterasanapologyforprotractinghisstay。Shesnatcheditup，sayinginatoneofironyandcontempt，Ihadforgotten-thedutifulslavewaitsananswertohismessage-How’sthis-fromtheSoldan！’’
　　Shehastilyranoverthecontents，whichwereexpressedbothinArabicandFrench，andwhenshehaddone，shelaughedinbitteranger。
　　Nowthispassesimagination！’’shesaid；nojongleurcanshowsodeftatransmutation！Hislegerdemaincantransformzechinsandbezantsintodoitsandmaravedies；butcanhisartconvertaChristianknight，everesteemedamongthebravestoftheHolyCrusade，intothedust-kissingslaveofaheathenSoldan-thebearerofaPaynim’sinsolentproposalstoaChristianmaiden-nay，forgettingthelawsofhonourablechivalry，aswellasofreligion？Butitavailsnottalkingtothewillingslaveofaheathenhound。Tellyourmaster，whenhisscourgeshallhavefoundtheeatongue，thatwhichthouhastseenmedo。’’-Sosaying，shethrewtheSoldan’sletterontheground，andplacedherfootuponit-Andsaytohim，thatEdithPlantagenetscornsthehomageofanunchristenedPagan。’’
　　Withthesewordsshewasabouttoshootfromtheknight，when，kneelingatherfeetinbitteragony，heventuredtolayhishanduponherrobe，andopposeherdeparture。