Part 18 (1/2)
”Sinan,” she answered, and they noted that she looked round quickly as she spoke the word.
”Oh,” he said, ”we thought the name was Jebal.”
Now she stared at him with wide, wondering eyes, and replied:
”He is so called also; but, Sir Pilgrims, what know you of the dread lord Al-je-bal?”
”Only that he lives at a place called Masyaf, which we wish to visit.”
Again she stared.
”Are you mad?” she queried, then checked herself, and clapped her hands for the slave to remove the dishes. While this was being done they said they would like to walk abroad.
”Good,” answered Masouda, ”the man shall accompany you--nay, it is best that you do not go alone, as you might lose your way.
Also, the place is not always safe for strangers, however humble they may seem,” she added with meaning. ”Would you wish to visit the governor at the castle, where there are a few English knights, also some priests who give advice to pilgrims?”
”We think not,” answered G.o.dwin; ”we are not worthy of such high company. But, lady, why do you look at us so strangely?”
”I am wondering, Sir Peter and Sir John, why you think it worth while to tell lies to a poor widow? Say, in your own country did you ever hear of certain twin brethren named--oh, how are they named?--Sir G.o.dwin and Sir Wulf, of the house of D'Arcy, which has been told of in this land?”
Now G.o.dwin's jaw dropped, but Wulf laughed out loud, and seeing that they were alone in the room, for the slave had departed, asked in his turn:
”Surely those twins would be pleased to find themselves so famous. But how did you chance to hear of them, O widowed hostess of a Syrian inn?”
”I? Oh, from a man on the dromon who called here while I made ready your food, and told me a strange story that he had learned in England of a band sent by Salah-ed-din--may his name be accursed!--to capture a certain lady. Of how the brethren named G.o.dwin and Wulf fought all that band also--ay, and held them off--a very knightly deed he said it was--while the lady escaped; and of how afterwards they were taken in a snare, as those are apt to be who deal with the Sultan, and this time the lady was s.n.a.t.c.hed away.”
”A wild tale truly,” said G.o.dwin. ”But did this man tell you further whether that lady has chanced to come to Palestine?”
She shook her head.
”Of that he told me nothing, and I have heard nothing. Now listen, my guests. You think it strange that I should know so much, but it is not strange, since here in Syria, knowledge is the business of some of us. Did you then believe, O foolish children, that two knights like you, who have played a part in a very great story, whereof already whispers run throughout the East, could travel by land and sea and not be known? Did you then think that none were left behind to watch your movements and to make report of them to that mighty one who sent out the s.h.i.+p of war, charged with a certain mission? Well, what he knows I know.
Have I not said it is my business to know? Now, why do I tell you this? Well, perhaps because I like such knights as you are, and I like that tale of two men who stood side by side upon a pier while a woman swam the stream behind them, and afterwards, sore wounded, charged their way through a host of foes. In the East we love such deeds of chivalry. Perhaps also because I would warn you not to throw away lives so gallant by attempting to win through the guarded gates of Damascus upon the maddest of all quests.
”What, you still stare at me and doubt? Good, I have been telling you lies. I was not awaiting you upon the quay, and that porter with whom I seemed to quarrel was not charged to seize your baggage and bring it to my house. No spies watched your movements from England to Beirut. Only since you have been at dinner I visited your room and read some writings which, foolishly, you and John have left among your baggage, and opened some books in which other names than Peter and John were written, and drew a great sword from its scabbard on which was engraved a motto: 'Meet D'Arcy, meet Death!' and heard Peter call John Wulf, and John call Peter G.o.dwin, and so forth.”
”It seems,” said Wulf in English, ”that we are flies in a web, and that the spider is called the widow Masouda, though of what use we are to her I know not. Now, brother, what is to be done?
Make friends with the spider?”
”An ill ally,” answered G.o.dwin. Then looking her straight in the face he asked, ”Hostess, who know so much, tell me why, amongst other names, did that donkey driver call you 'daughter of Al-je-bal'?”
She started, and answered:
”So you understand Arabic? I thought it. Why do you ask? What does it matter to you?”
”Not much, except that, as we are going to visit Al-je-bal, of course we think ourselves fortunate to have met his daughter.”
”Going to visit Al-je-bal? Yes, you hinted as much upon the s.h.i.+p, did you not? Perhaps that is why I came to meet you. Well, your throats will be cut before ever you reach the first of his castles.”