“Ere long it shall be proved how that may be,” answered the emir; “to-morrow we are to set out with my fleet of galleys towards Ostia. There we shall cast anchor; and this is the voyage of which I have before spoken, and on which you must go with me before I am at liberty to attend you on your journey homewards. Rome is but feebly defended; and if I should succeed in burying the triple-crowned priest under the ruins of his own churches, the whole mouldering fabric of the system, called Christianity, would at once be tumbled down, along with its key-stone, to the ground. Especially, I have the better chance to succeed in this undertaking, because the light and mirror of your Christian knighthood, the brave King Richard, is now held in prison by his own friends and comrades in the field, who should have protected him, if need were, from all such insult.” Thereafter a pleasant smile stole over Bertha’s features; nay, she looked so contented and child-like in her happiness, that one might have rather said that she laughed; whereupon the emir rose from his place on the veranda, walked up and down, and said, “Fair and beautiful as thou art, how can’st thou jest over what I have now said? My hopes and courage, nay my very life, had been renewed in thy presence; for I believed that every thought and feeling of my soul was by thee sympathized with and understood; and, though according to the manner of timid damsels, thou perchance might be afraid of my over vehemence and zeal, yet thou could’st still admire the greatness of my undertakings, and feel thereby inspired and enraptured. Now, however, when I have uttered before thee those things of which I had never till now spoken but in my secret prayers to God and our holy prophet, all the return I meet with is but in childish laughter! not even hast thou trembled at thoughts of the fearful and irresistible dangers which my voyage will bring on thy cherished faith and all its adherents.” “Could my faith then be sincere,” answered Bertha, with the same unconcerned smile, “if I thought that our religion could be overcome by thy endeavours? The true faith may never die; Heaven will soon supply means for the defence of Rome; and I am heartily glad that you will take me with you to Ostia, and that I may be a wondering spectator by what agent Providence shall repulse your proud and warlike attacks. It may be an avenging spirit with a flaming sword, or a seraph smiling on you in peace and forgiveness; and, Heaven knows, it is my earnest hope that the peace-angel may come to meet you.” At these words, Nurreddin bowed lowly and respectfully, saying, “Forgive me, if I misunderstood your smiles; for it is not my fault if you are far better fitted to excite or display heroic energies than to look for and admire them in others.”