ready the fever burns to the verge of madness. Life de-pends upon his repose.'' " "What whisper ye V exclaimed Cœur de Lion, startling them by his energy. "I tell you I will know all. Long-sword, shainest thou the blood of the Plantagenet by coun-selling with women and leeches ? Speak, man, I command thee." Not daring farther to irritate the imperious invalid, the son of Rosamond came forward and stated that the Turks, perceiving the christian army very much dejected at the loss of Count Alberic and his scaling party, had sent to beg a truce of eight days, promising at the same time, if the Soldan did not send them speedy assistance, to give up the city, on condition that all the Turks might be allowed to depart with their arms and property. In consequence of the severe indisposition of Richard, the chiefs had deemed it prudent not to disturb him with these matters ; and hence the King of France and the Duke of Austria had taken the responsibility of returning a favorable answer to the propo-sition. "By my father's soul," exclaimed Richard, "the son of France is more craven than I deemed. To give up the prize when just within our grasp is not to be thought of. Send the ambassadors to me. They shall find that Cœur de Lion will not barter glory for a deserted city. " Go," added he, observing the hesitation of Longsword, " and venture not into my presence again without the envoys." "But the leech said—" interposed Berengaria. "The curse of sweet Jesus upon the leech ! Am I to be subject to nurses, dosed with physic, and soothed with lullabys, like a muling child ? Away ! or my chamberlain shall en-force thy absence," said he, darting his first angry glance at his trembling queen. Finding all remonstrance "pin, the discomfited females yielded to*his impetuosity, only obtaining for themselves the grace of being present at the interview. Ill as he was, the monarch was clothed in his robes of state ; and with a cheek glowing with fever and eyes sparkling with unwonted 234 HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES.