Thus the time passed for several days, but at length the Sultan suddenly entered the room. They instantly realized that they were not regarded as ordinary prisoners. The Sultan inquired if there was anything they needed, but they made no complaints. He expected to see them at his feet, deploring their situation, but he heard no request for mitigation of their imprisonment, for better food, or for the enjoyment of fresh air. They were quiet and calm in his presence. Every trace of sorrow had disappeared from their faces, and confidence and courage shone in their eyes. The Sultan stood before them, astonished at their bearing. At last, with scornful look and menacing voice, he said: “Your death will follow the slightest attempt you make to escape, or which your Emperor shall make to rescue you.” “We shall make no attempt to escape, for it is impossible,” said Raymond, “but we cannot prevent the Emperor from doing what he thinks is right. If you kill us, we will die joyfully.” “But that will not be necessary, if your protector, the Emperor, keeps his word as faithfully as they say he does.” “He always keeps his word, whatever malicious tongues may say to the contrary.” “Why, then, does he delay keeping it in your case?” “How do you know he has given his word to us?” “Oho! you innocent doves! On the very spot where your father died, and where you (pointing to Raymond) killed one of my bravest, I heard him say, ‘I will care for thy sons as if they were my own, and I will pledge my life for them.’” “And he will do what he said. He will keep his word, but he has hardly had time to hear of our capture.” “He knows it well enough, but he will not keep his word.” “That is false.” “Don’t be so hasty! Listen. I have sent word to him by one of my most trusty messengers that you are in my hands and that I will kill you if he attacks my castle. In addition to this, I offered to release you if he would make peace and quit the country. And what was his reply?” “He has considered your proposition, and rejects it.” “You have guessed right; and yet by doing as he has done, he has put your lives in danger. He has been faithless.” “He esteems honor—without which one cannot be a knight—higher than life. Will he, the greatest sovereign on earth, whose long life is one series of heroic acts such as have rarely been performed in this world, before whom Europe and Asia tremble, will he forget his imperial duty and prove himself guilty in his old age of such a cowardly act as you expect from him? No, never! The world would point its finger of scorn at him, and those who were slain in executing his designs would rise up and say, ‘Thou hast deliberately sacrificed us at the close of thy victorious career; thou hast thrown away all that thou hast purchased with our blood.’” The Sultan, astonished at these words, replied: “It is true the Emperor promised to free Palestine; but he also promised to protect you, and his obstinacy consigns you to death.”