BELTRAN’S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF. 93

out, “ What! dost think King Richard is there?”
In like manner, when their children cry, their
mothers say to them, “Hush, hush! or I will bring
King Richard of England to you.” ’

‘On my faith!’ said the earl, looking more and
more surprised, ‘I cannot comprehend you; for,
albeit speaking French, and wearing the dress of
a Frank, you seem from your words to be an inha-
bitant of this country.’

‘It is true,’ replied the man, slowly. * You must
know that I am a Christian renegade.’

‘A Christian renegade!’ exclaimed Salisbury,
with pious horror. And then asked, ‘ But who are
you, and why became you a renegade?’

‘Well, it came to pass in this wise,’ answered the
man, frankly. ‘I was born in Poictiers, whence I
followed Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to the East, and
found my way to Egypt, where I have acquired some
wealth.’ |

‘But,’ demanded the earl, indignantly, ‘know
you not that if you were to die while leading your
present life, you would descend straight to hell, and
be for ever damned ?’

‘In truth,’ replied the man, ‘I know full well
that there is not a better religion than that of the
Christians. But what can Ido? Suppose I returned —
to it-and had to go back to France, I should assur-
edly suffer great poverty, and be continually re-
proached all my days, and be called “ Renegado!
renegado !”?

‘Even with that prospect you ought not to hesi-
tate,’ said the earl; ‘for surely it would be much