"
"When the blast has passed away," said Conrade, "the straws,
which it made dance to its pipe, will settle to earth again."
"But knowest thou not besides," said the Templar, "that it seems,
if this new purpose of conquest shall be abandoned and pass away,
and each mighty prince shall again be left to such guidance as
his own scanty brain can supply, Richard may yet probably become
King of Jerusalem by compact, and establish those terms of treaty
with the Soldan which thou thyself thought'st him so likely to
spurn at?"
"Now, by Mahound and Termagaunt, for Christian oaths are out of
fashion," said Conrade, "sayest thou the proud King of England
would unite his blood with a heathen Soldan? My policy threw in
that ingredient to make the whole treaty an abomination to him.
As bad for us that he become our master by an agreement, as by
victory."
"Thy policy hath ill calculated Richard's digestion," answered
the Templar; "I know his mind by a whisper from the Archbishop.
And then thy master-stroke respecting yonder banner--it has
passed off with no more respect than two cubits of embroidered
silk merited.
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