Passing down various passages and across a court they came to some guarded doors, where the soldiers demanded that they should give up their swords and daggers.
"It is not needful," said Hassan, and they let them go by.

Next came more passages and a curtain, beyond which they found themselves in a small, domed room, lit by hanging silver lamps and paved in tesselated marbles, strewn with rich rugs and furnished with cushioned couches.
At a sign from Hassan the brethren stood still in the centre of this room, and looked about them wondering.

The place was empty and very silent; they felt afraid--of what they knew not.
Presently curtains upon its further side opened and through them came a man turbaned and wrapped in a dark robe, who stood awhile in the shadow, gazing at them beneath the lamps.
The man was not very tall, and slight in build, yet about him was much majesty, although his garb was such as the humblest might have worn.

He came forward, lifting his head, and they saw that his features were small and finely cut; that he was bearded, and beneath his broad brow shone thoughtful yet at times piercing eyes which were brown in hue.

Now the prince Hassan sank to his knees and touched the marble with his forehead, and, guessing that they were in the presence of the mighty monarch Saladin, the brethren saluted in their western fashion.