256 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

that the wise man says, “ Whatever grief the valiant
man may suffer in his mind, he ought not to show it
on his countenance; for he that does so causes pain
to his friends and pleasure to his enemies.” ’

‘ However, seneschal,’ said the legate, ‘the king is
much satisfied with the good and agreeable services
you have rendered him, and earnestly wishes for your
honour and advancement. He commands me to tell
you, as he knows it will give you pleasure at heart,
that he intends to embark for France on this side of
Easter.’

‘In truth, it does give me pleasure,’ said Joinville.
‘And I pray that the Lord may ever induce the king
to act in accordance with his will.’

And soon after Louis, with his queen and his
knights and nobles, returned to Acre, and made pre-
parations for his departure.

It happened that when John de Valence and his
associates went to Cairo, to treat for the release of
the French captives, and also for the remains of some
of the French warriors who fell at Mansourah, the
Saracens suddenly reminded him of the Earl of
Salisbury.

‘I wonder,’ said an emir, ‘ that you Christians, who
venerate the ashes of the dead, make no inquiry for
the bones of that most illustrious and noble-born
William, to whom you give the name of Longsword ;
whereas we, seeing that he was slain in battle and on
account of his illustrious qualities, have treated his
remains with all respect.’ |

On hearing this, the ambassadors were somewhat
confused.