Themisproudandamphibiouscaitiffputsthemonkuponme，’’saidRichardtotheEarlofSalisbury。But，Long-Sword，wewillletitpass。ApunctiliomustnotloseChristendomtheservicesoftheseexperiencedlances，becausetheirvictorieshaverenderedthemoverweening-Loyou，herecomesourvaliantadversary，theDukeofAustria-markhismannerandbearingLong-Sword-andthou，Nubian，letthehoundhavefullviewofhim。ByHeaven，hebringshisbuffoonsalongwithhim！’’
Infact，whetherfromhabit，or，whichismorelikely，tointimatecontemptoftheceremonialhewasabouttocomplywith，Leopoldwasattendedbyhis_spruch-sprecher_andhisjester，andasheadvancedtowardsRichard，hewhistledinwhathewishedtobeconsideredasanindifferentmanner，thoughhisheavyfeaturesevincedthesullenness，mixedwiththefear，withwhichatruantschoolboymaybeseentoapproachhismaster。
Asthereluctantdignitarymade，withdiscomposedandsulkylook，theobeisancerequired，the_spruch-sprecher_shookhisbaton，andproclaimed，likeaherald，that，inwhathewasnowdoing，theArchdukeofAustriawasnottobeheldderogatingfromtherankandprivilegesofasovereignprince；towhichthejesteransweredwithasonorous_amen，_whichprovokedmuchlaughteramongthebystanders。
KingRichardlookedmorethanonceattheNubianandhisdog；buttheformermovednot，nordidthelatterstrainattheleash，sothatRichardsaidtotheslavewithsomescorn，Thysuccessinthisenterprise，mysablefriend，eventhoughthouhutbroughtthyhound’ssagacitytobackthineown，willnot，Ifear，placetheehighintherankofwizards，ormuchaugmentthymeritstowardsourperson。’’
TheNubiananswered，asusual，onlybyalowobeisance。
MeantimethetroopsoftheMarquisofMontserratnextpassedinorderbeforetheKingofEngland。Thatpowerfulandwilybaron，tomakethegreaterdisplayofhisforces，haddividedthemintotwobodies。Attheheadofthefirst，consistingofhisvassalsandfollowers，andleviedfromhisSyrianpossessions，camehisbrotherEnguerrand，andhehimselffollowed，leadingonagallantbandoftwelvehundredStradiots，akindoflightcavalryraisedbytheVenetiansintheirDalmatianpossessions，andofwhichtheyhadentrustedthecommandtotheMarquis，withwhomtherepublichadmanybondsofconnection。TheseStradiotswereclothedinafashionpartlyEuropean，butpartakingchieflyoftheEasternfashion。Theywore，indeed，shorthauberks，buthadoverthemparti-colouredtunicsofrichstuffs，withlargewidepantaloonsandhalf-boots。Ontheirheadswerestraightuprightcaps，similartothoseoftheGreeks，andtheycarriedsmallroundtargets，bowsandarrows，scimitars，andponiards。Theyweremountedonhorses，carefullyselected，andwellmaintainedattheexpenseoftheStateofVenice；theirsaddlesandappointmentsresembledthoseoftheTurks，andtheyrodeinthesamemanner，withshortstirrupsanduponahighseat。ThesetroopswereofgreatuseinskirmishingwiththeArabs，thoughunabletoengageinclosecombat，liketheiron-sheathedmen-at-armsofWesternandNorthernEurope。
BeforethisgoodlybandcameConrade，inthesamegarbwiththeStradiots，butofsuchrichstuffthatheseemedtoblazewithgoldandsilver，andthemilk-whiteplumefastenedinhiscapbyaclaspofdiamonds，seemedtallenoughtosweeptheclouds。Thenoblesteedwhichhereinedboundedandcaracoled，anddisplayedhisspiritandagilityinamannerwhichmighthavetroubledalessadmirablehorsemanthantheMarquis，whogracefullyruledhimwiththeonehand，whiletheotherdisplayedthebaton，whosepredominancyovertherankswhichheledseemedequallyabsolute。YethisauthorityovertheStradiotswasmoreinshowthaninsubstance；fortherepacedbesidehim，onanamblingpalfreyofsoberestmood，alittleoldman，dressedentirelyinblack，withoutbeardormustaches，andhavinganappearancealtogetherleanandinsignificant，whencomparedwiththeblazeofsplendouraroundhim。Butthismean-lookingoldmanwasoneofthosedeputieswhomtheVenetiangovernmentsentintocampstooverlooktheconductofthegeneralstowhomtheleadingwasconsigned，andtomaintainthatjealoussystemofespialandcontrolwhichhadlongdistinguishedthepolicyoftherepublic。
Conrade，who，bycultivatingRichard’shumour，hadattainedacertaindegreeoffavourwithhim，nosoonerwascomewithinhiskenthantheKingofEnglanddescendedasteportwotomeethim，exclaiming，atthesametime，Ha，LordMarquis，thouattheheadofthefleetStradiots，andthyblackshadowattendingtheeasusual，whetherthesunshinesornot！-Maynotoneasktheewhethertheruleofthetroopsremainswiththeshadoworthesubstance？’’
Conradewascommencinghisreplywithasmile，whenRoswal，thenoblehound，utteringafuriousandsavageyell，sprungforward。
TheNubian，atthesametime，slippedtheleash，andthehound，rushingon，leapeduponConrade’snoblecharger，andseizingtheMarquisbythethroat，pulledhimdownfromthesaddle。Theplumedriderlayrollingonthesand，andthefrightenedhorsefledinwildcareerthroughthecamp。
Thyhoundhathpulleddowntherightquarry，Iwarranthim，’’saidtheKingtotheNubian，andIvowtoSaintGeorgeheisastagoftentynes！-Pluckthedogoff，lesthethrottlehim。’’
TheEthiopian，accordingly，thoughnotwithoutdifficulty，disengagedthedogfromConrade，andfastenedhimup，stillhighlyexcited，andstrugglingintheleash。Meanwhilemanycrowdedtothespot，especiallyfollowersofConradeandofficersoftheStradiots，who，astheysawtheirleaderliegazingwildlyonthesky，raisedhimupamidatumultuarycryof-Cuttheslaveandhishoundtopieces！’’
ButthevoiceofRichard，loudandsonorous，washeardclearaboveallotherexclamations-Hediesthedeathwhoinjuresthehound！Hehathbutdonehisduty，afterthesagacitywithwhichGodandnaturehaveendowedthebraveanimal-Standforwardforafalsetraitor，thouConrade，MarquisofMontserrat！
Iimpeachtheeoftreason。’’
SeveraloftheSyrianleadershadnowcomeup，andConrade-
vexation，andshame，andconfusionstrugglingwithpassioninhismannerandvoice-exclaimed，Whatmeansthis？-WithwhatamIcharged？-Whythisbaseusage，andthesereproachfulterms？-IsthistheleagueofconcordwhichEnglandrenewedbutsolately？’’
ArethePrincesoftheCrusadeturnedharesordeersintheeyesofKingRichard，thatheshouldsliphoundsonthem？’’
saidthesepulchralvoiceoftheGrandMasteroftheTemplars。
Itmustbesomesingularaccident-somefatalmistake，’’
saidPhilipofFrance，whorodeupatthesamemoment。
SomedeceitoftheEnemy，’’saidtheArchbishopofTyre。
AstratagemoftheSaracens，’’criedHenryofChampagne-Itwerewelltohangupthedog，andputtheslavetothetorture。’’
Letnomanlayhanduponthem，’’saidRichard，asheloveshisownlife！-Conrade，standforth，ifthoudarest，anddenytheaccusationwhichthismuteanimalhathinhisnobleinstinctbroughtagainstthee，ofinjurydonetohim，andfoulscorntoEngland！’’
Inevertouchedthebanner，’’saidConrade，hastily。
Thywordsbetraythee，Conrade！’’saidRichard；forhowdidstthouknow，savefromconsciousguilt，thatthequestionisconcerningthebanner？’’
Hastthouthennotkeptthecampinturmoilonthatandnootherscore？’’answeredConrade；anddostthouimputetoaprinceandanallyacrime，which，afterall，wasprobablycommittedbysomepaltryfelonforthesakeofthegoldthread？
Orwouldstthounowimpeachaconfederateonthecreditofadog？’’
Bythistimethealarmwasbecominggeneral，sothatPhilipofFranceinterposed。
Princesandnobles，’’hesaid，youspeakinpresenceofthosewhoseswordswillsoonbeatthethroatsofeachother，iftheyheartheirleadersatsuchtermstogether。InthenameofHeaven，letusdrawoff，eachhisowntroops，intotheirseparatequarters，andourselvesmeetanhourhenceinthePavilionofCouncil，totakesomeorderinthisnewstateofconfusion。’’
Content，’’saidKingRichard，thoughIshouldhavelikedtohaveinterrogatedthatcaitiffwhilehisgaydoubletwasyetbesmirchedwithsand-ButthepleasureofFranceshallbeoursinthismatter。’’
Theleadersseparatedaswasproposed，eachprinceplacinghimselfattheheadofhisownforces；andthenwasheardonallsidesthecryingofwar-cries，andthesoundingofgathering-notesuponbuglesandtrumpets，bywhichthedifferentstragglersweresummonedtotheirprince’sbanner；andthetroopswereshortlyseeninmotion，eachtakingdifferentroutesthroughthecamptotheirownquarters。Butalthoughanyimmediateactofviolencewasthusprevented，yettheaccidentwhichhadtakenplacedweltoneverymind；andthoseforeigners，whohadthatmorninghailedRichardastheworthiesttoleadtheirarmy，nowresumedtheirprejudicesagainsthisprideandintolerance，whiletheEnglish，conceivingthehonouroftheircountryconnectedwiththequarrel，ofwhichvariousreportshadgoneabout，consideredthenativesofothercountriesjealousofthefameofEnglandandherKing，anddisposedtoundermineitbythemeanestartsofintrigue。Manyandvariousweretherumoursspreadupontheoccasion，andtherewasonewhichaverredthattheQueenandherladieshadbeenmuchalarmedbythetumult，andthatoneofthemhadswooned。
TheCouncilassembledattheappointedhour。Conradehadinthemeanwhilelaidasidehisdishonoureddress，andwithittheshameandconfusionwhich，inspiteofhistalentsandpromptitude，hadatfirstoverwhelmedhim，owingtothestrangenessoftheaccident，andsuddennessoftheaccusation。Hewasnowrobedlikeaprince，andenteredthecouncil-chamberattendedbytheArchdukeofAustria，theGrandMastersbothoftheTempleandoftheOrderofSaintJohn，andseveralotherpotentates，whomadeashowofsupportinghimanddefendinghiscause，chieflyperhapsfrompoliticalmotives，orbecausetheythemselvesnourishedapersonalenmityagainstRichard。
ThisappearanceofunioninfavourofConradewasfarfrominfluencingtheKingofEngland。HeenteredtheCouncilwithhisusualindifferenceofmanner，andinthesamedressinwhichhehadjustalightedfromhorseback。Hecastacarelessandsomewhatscornfulglanceontheleaders，whohadwithstudiedaffectationarrangedthemselvesaroundConrade，asifowninghiscause，andinthemostdirecttermschargedConradeofMontserratwithhavingstolentheBannerofEngland，andwoundedthefaithfulanimalwhostoodinitsdefence。
Conradearoseboldlytoanswer，andindespite，asheexpressedhimself，ofmanandbrute，kingordog，avouchedhisinnocenceofthecrimecharged。
BrotherofEngland，’’saidPhilip，whowillinglyassumedthecharacterofmoderatoroftheassembly，thisisanunusualimpeachment。Wedonothearyouavouchyourownknowledgeofthismatter，fartherthanyourbeliefrestinguponthedemeanourofthishoundtowardstheMarquisofMontserrat。
Surelythewordofaknightandaprinceshouldbearhimoutagainstthebarkingofacur？’’
Royalbrother，’’returnedRichard，recollectthattheAlmighty，whogavethedogtobecompanionofourpleasuresandourtoils，hathinvestedhimwithanaturenobleandincapableofdeceit。Heforgetsneitherfriendnorfoe-remembers，andwithaccuracy，bothbenefitandinjury。Hehathashareofman’sintelligence，butnoshareofman’sfalsehood。Youmaybribeasoldiertoslayamanwithhissword，orawitnesstotakelifebyfalseaccusation；butyoucannotmakeahoundtearhisbenefactor-heisthefriendofman，savewhenmanjustlyincurshisenmity。DressyonderMarquisinwhatpeacock-robesyouwill-disguisehisappearance-alterhiscomplexionwithdrugsandwashes-hidehimamidstanhundredmen-Iwillyetpawnmysceptrethatthehounddetectshim，andexpresseshisresentment，asyouhavethisdaybeheld。Thisisnonewincident，althoughastrangeone。Murderersandrobbershavebeen，erenow，convicted，andsuffereddeathundersuchevidence，andmenhavesaidthatthefingerofGodwasinit。Inthineownland，royalbrother，anduponsuchanoccasion，thematterwastriedbyasolemnduelbetwixtthemanandthedog，asappellantanddefendantinachallengeofmurder。Thedogwasvictorious，themanwaspunished，andthecrimewasconfessed。
Creditme，royalbrother，thathiddencrimeshaveoftenbeenbroughttolightbythetestimonyevenofinanimatesubstances，nottomentionanimalsfarinferiorininstinctivesagacitytothedog，whoisthefriendandcompanionofourrace。’’
