"
"How! Conrade murdered?--And by the Grand Master, his sponsor
and most intimate friend!" exclaimed Richard. "Noble Soldan, I
would not doubt thee; yet this must be proved, otherwise--"
"There stands the evidence," said Saladin, pointing to the
terrified dwarf. "Allah, who sends the fire-fly to illuminate
the night season, can discover secret crimes by the most
contemptible means."
The Soldan proceeded to tell the dwarf's story, which amounted to
this. In his foolish curiosity, or, as he partly confessed, with
some thoughts of pilfering, Nectabanus had strayed into the tent
of Conrade, which had been deserted by his attendants, some of
whom had left the encampment to carry the news of his defeat to
his brother, and others were availing themselves of the means
which Saladin had supplied for revelling. The wounded man slept
under the influence of Saladin's wonderful talisman, so that the
dwarf had opportunity to pry about at pleasure until he was
frightened into concealment by the sound of a heavy step.
Pages:
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653