He thus made them understand that he wished to be taken to their Commander-in-Chief. So they decided to take these strange beings to Malek-Kamel. As the Sultan sat in his pavilion Francis and Illuminato were led in. They bowed and saluted him courteously and Malek-Kamel returned the salute. "Have you come with a message from your Commander?" said the Sultan. "No," replied Francis. "You wish then to become Saracens--worshippers of Allah in the name of Mahomet?" "Nay, nay," answered Francis, "Saracens we will never be. We have come with a message from God; it is a message that will save your life. If you die under the law of Mahomet you are lost. We have come to tell you so: if you listen to us we will show all this to you." The Sultan seems to have been amused and interested rather than angry. "I have bishops and archbishops of my own," he said, "they can tell me all that I wish to know." "Of this we are glad," replied Francis, "send and fetch them, if you will." The Sultan agreed; he sent for eight of his Moslem great men. When they came in he said to them: "See these men, they have come to teach us a new faith. Shall we listen to them?" "Sire," they answered him at once, "thou knowest the law: thou art bound to uphold it and carry it out. By Mahomet who gave us the law to slay infidels, we command thee that their heads be cut off. We will not listen to a word that they say. Off with their heads!" The great men, having given their judgment, solemnly left the presence of the Sultan. The Sultan turned to Francis and Illuminato. "Masters," he said to them, "they have commanded me by Mahomet to have your heads cut off. But I will go against the law, for you have risked your lives to save my immortal soul. Now leave me for the time." The two Christian missionaries were led away; but in a day or two Malek-Kamel called them to his presence again. "If you will stay in my dominions," he said, "I will give you land and other possessions." "Yes," said Francis, "I will stay--on one condition--that you and your people turn to the worship of the true God. See," he went on, "let us put it to the test. Your priests here," and he pointed to some who were standing about, "they will not let me talk with them; will they do something. Have a great fire lighted. I will walk into the fire with them: the result will shew you whose faith is the true one." As Francis suggested this idea the faces of the Moslem leaders were transfigured with horror. They turned and quietly walked away. "I do not think," said the Sultan with a sarcastic smile at their retreating backs, "that any of my priests are ready to face the flames to defend their faith." "Well, I will go _alone_ into the fire," said Francis. "If I am burned--it is because of my sins--if I am protected by God then you will own Him as your God."