"The world could ill spare so brave and good a man."Two hours later guards summoned Godwin from the place where he was prisoned, and, accompanied by the old bishop who had shriven him, he passed its door with a happy countenance, such as a bridegroom might have worn.In a fashion, indeed, he was happy, whose troubles were done with, who had few sins to mourn, whose faith was the faith of a child, and who laid down his life for his friend and brother.They took him to a vault of the great house where Saladin was lodged--a large, rough place, lit with torches, in which waited the headsman and his assistants.
Presently Saladin entered, and, looking at him curiously, said:
"Are you still of the same mind, Sir Godwin?""I am."
"Good Yet I have changed mine.You shall say farewell to your cousin, as you desired.Let the princess of Baalbec be brought hither, sick or well, that she may see her work.Let her come alone.""Sire," pleaded Godwin, "spare her such a sight."But he pleaded in vain, for Saladin answered only, "I have said."A while passed, and Godwin, hearing the sweep of robes, looked up, and saw the tall shape of a veiled woman standing in the corner of the vault where the shadow was so deep that the torchlight only glimmered faintly upon her royal ornaments.
"They told me that you were sick, princess, sick with sorrow, as well you may be, because the man you love was about to die for you," said Saladin in a slow voice."Now I have had pity on your grief, and his life has been bought with another life, that of the knight who stands yonder."The veiled form started wildly, then sank back against the wall.
"Rosamund," broke in Godwin, speaking in French, "I beseech you, be silent and do not unman me with words or tears.It is best thus, and you know that it is best.Wulf you love as he loves you, and I believe that in time you will be brought together.Me you do not love, save as a friend, and never have.Moreover, Itell you this that it may ease your pain and my conscience; I no longer seek you as my wife, whose bride is death.I pray you, give to Wulf my love and blessing, and to Masouda, that truest and most sweet woman, say, or write, that I offer her the homage of my heart; that I thought of her in my last moments, and that my prayer is we may meet again where all crooked paths are straightened.Rosamund, farewell; peace and joy go with you through many years, ay, and with your children's children.Of Godwin I only ask you to remember this, that he lived serving you, and so died."She heard and stretched out her arms, and, none forbidding him, Godwin walked to where she stood.Without lifting her veil she bent forward and kissed him, first upon the brow and next upon the lips; then with a low, moaning cry, she turned and fled from that gloomy place, nor did Saladin seek to stay her.Only to himself the Sultan wondered how it came about that if it was Wulf whom Rosamund loved, she still kissed Godwin thus upon the lips.
As he walked back to the death-place Godwin wondered also, first that Rosamund should have spoken no single word, and secondly because she had kissed him thus, even in that hour.Why or wherefore he did not know, but there rose in his mind a memory of that wild ride down the mountain steeps at Beirut, and of lips which then had touched his cheek, and of the odour of hair that then was blown about his breast.With a sigh he thrust the thought aside, blushing to think that such memories should come to him who had done with earth and its delights, knelt down before the headsman, and, turning to the bishop, said:
"Bless me, father, and bid them strike."
Then it was that he heard a well-known footstep, and looked up to see Wulf staring at him.
"What do you here, Godwin?" asked Wulf."Has yonder fox snared both of us?" and he nodded at Saladin.
"Let the fox speak," said the Sultan with a smile."Know, Sir Wulf, that your brother was about to die in your place, and of his own wish.But I refuse such sacrifice who yet have made use of it to teach my niece, the princess, that should she continue in her plottings to escape, or allow you to continue in them, certainly it will bring you to your deaths, and, if need be, her also.Knights, you are brave men whom I prefer to kill in war.
