After three years of active service he must reside two more at the convent, and can then be made a commander.

There is but one exception to the rule--namely, that the pages of the grand master are entitled to the privilege of admission at the age of twelve, so that they become professed knights at thirteen.

Your son is now but nine, you say, and we must remember that D'Aubusson is not yet Grand Master, and Orsini may live for some years yet.

D'Aubusson, however, can doubtless get him to appoint the boy as one of his pages.

But, in any case, there are three years yet to be passed before he can go out.