158 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book n.

that they are in place of the grand master, continuedto act, just as while he was in Egypt), the traditionis that by a great struggle he rose from his bed;and received St. Louis, on the beach, at Acre, whosaid, seeing him so thin and tottering, “ Now, mygood Grand Master, return to your bed, where Iwill presently visit you.” Which when the mo-narch did, a few hours later, the grand masteron his couch, in his bedroom, and the king standing,they remained some instants looking at each otherin silence, and finally St. Louis spoke: “ So you sawhim?’’—And the monarch turned very pale, andburst into a great flood of tears.

A few months after his return, he received anembassy from the Old Man of the Mountain, notof menace, like that in Cyprus, but friendship andtribute, as to a superior, and his ring and a shirtas symbols of close alliance, as the finger to thehand, and the other as worn next the skin . 1 Towhich the king replied, through a knight whospoke Arabic well, whom he sent to complimentthe sheick. What expedition could St. Louisundertake, who found but a corps of seven hundredat Acre, and had not of his own one hundred?That disastrous retreat in Egypt produced manyrenegades, who were despised by the Mahometans.

1 Michaud: Hist., iy. 303.