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.