Rosamund spoke.
"Are these dead or sleeping ?" "Have no fear," answered Hassan.

"By my hope of paradise, they do but sleep, and will awake ere morning." Rosamund pointed to the renegade Nicholas--he that had struck down her father from behind--who, an evil look upon his face, stood apart from the Saracens, holding in his hand a lighted torch.
"What does this man with the torch ?" she asked.
"If you would know, lady," Nicholas answered with a sneer, "I wait till you are out of it to fire the hall." "Prince Hassan," said Rosamund, "is this a deed that great Saladin would wish, to burn drugged men beneath their own roof?
Now, as you shall answer to him, in the name of Saladin I, a daughter of his House, command you, strike the fire from that man's hand, and in my hearing give your order that none should even think of such an act of shame." "What ?" broke in Nicholas, "and leave knights like these, whose quality you know"-- and he pointed to the brethren--"to follow in our path, and take our lives in vengeance?
Why, it is madness!" "Are you master here, traitor, or am I ?" asked Hassan in cold contempt.

"Let them follow if they will, and I for one shall rejoice to meet foes so brave in open battle, and there give them their revenge.

Ali," he added, addressing the man who had been disguised as a merchant's underling, and who had drugged the men in the barn as his master had drugged those in the hall, and opened the moat gate to the band, "Ali, stamp upon the torch and guard that Frank till we reach the boat lest the fool should raise the country on us with his fires.

Now, Princess, are you satisfied ?" "Ay, having your word," she answered.