I say nothing of this story to the princess Rosamund until it is done with." Then throwing her cloak about her shoulders, she turned and went.
"Is that true, think you ?" asked Wulf of Godwin.
"We have never found Masouda to be a liar," was his answer.
"Come; let us see to our armour, for the knives of those fedai are sharp." It was near midnight, and the brethren stood in the small, domed ante-chamber, from which a door opened into the sleeping rooms of Saladin.

The guard of eight Mameluks had left them, to be met by their relief in the courtyard, according to custom, but no relief had as yet appeared in the ante-chamber.
"It would seem that Masouda's tale is true," said Godwin, and going to the door he locked it, and hid the key beneath a cushion.
Then they took their stand in front of the locked door, before which hung curtains, standing in the shadow with the light from the hanging silver lamps pouring down in front of them.

Here they waited awhile in silence, till at length they heard the tramp of men, and eight Mameluks, clad in yellow above their mail, marched in and saluted.
"Stand!" said Godwin, and they stood a minute, then began to edge forward.
"Stand!" said both the brethren again, but still they edged forward.
"Stand, sons of Sinan!" they said a third time, drawing their swords.
Then with a hiss of disappointed rage the fedai came at them.
"A D'Arcy! A D'Arcy! Help for the Sultan!" shouted the brethren, and the fray began.
Six of the men attacked them, and while they were engaged with these the other two slipped round and tried the door, only to find it fast.

Then they also turned upon the brethren, thinking to take the key from off their bodies.

At the first rush two of the fedai went down beneath the sweep of the long swords, but after that the murderers would not come close, and while some engaged them in front, others strove to pass and stab them from behind.