She greeted them with sweet and gentle words, thanking first Godwin and then Wulf for all that they had done, and turning to Masouda, who stood by, stately, and watchful, thanked her also.

Then they sat down, and ate with light hearts and a good appetite.
Before their meal was finished, the guard at the door announced that messengers had arrived from the Sultan.

They entered, grey-haired men clad in the robes of secretaries, whom Hassan hastened to greet.

When they were seated and had spoken with him awhile, one of them drew forth a letter, which Hassan, touching his forehead with it in token of respect, gave to Rosamund.

She broke its seal, and, seeing that it was in Arabic, handed it to her cousin, saying: "Do you read it, Godwin, who are more learned than I." So he read aloud, translating the letter sentence by sentence.
This was its purport: "Salah-ed-din, Commander of the Faithful, the Strong-to-aid, to his niece beloved, Rose of the World, princess of Baalbec:-- "Our servant, the emir Hassan, has sent us tidings of your rescue from the power of the accursed lord of the Mountain, Sinan, and that you are now safe in our city of Emesa, guarded by many thousands of our soldiers, and with you a woman named Masouda, and your kinsmen, the two Frankish knights, by whose skill in arms and courage you were saved.