Saladin looked at them, but gave them no greeting.

Then he spoke: "Woman, you have had my message.

You know that your rank is taken from you, and that with it my promises are at an end; you know also that you come hither to suffer the death of faithless women.
Is it so ?" "I know all these things, great Salah-ed-din," answered Rosamund.
"Tell me, then, do you come of your own free will, unforced by any, and why does the knight Sir Wulf, whose life I spared and do not seek, kneel at your side ?" "I come of my own free will, Salah-ed-din, as your emirs can tell you; ask them.

For the rest, my kinsman must answer for himself." "Sultan," said Wulf, "I counselled the lady Rosamund that she should come--not that she needed such counsel--and, having given it, I accompanied her by right of blood and of Justice, since her offence against you is mine also.

Her fate is my fate." "I have no quarrel against you whom I forgave, therefore you must take your own way to follow the path she goes." "Doubtless," answered Wulf, "being a Christian among many sons of the Prophet, it will not be hard to find a friendly scimitar to help me on that road.