Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/275

Rh D’Aubusson to deal with a man who was fully his equal in the art, and whose extensive system of espial had rendered him well acquainted with the real motives by which the Ottoman sultan was actuated. Perceiving that a short truce would give time for such reinforcements to arrive as were still lingering on the way, he yielded a ready assent to the proposals of Demetrius, merely taking objection to the question of tribute, as to which he averred that he was not authorized to treat without special reference to the Pope. In order, therefore, to allow time for this reference to be made, he suggested that a temporary truce should be established, during the continuance of which the commerce of both parties should be free from aggression. This proposal was accepted by Mahomet, who flattered himself that he had succeeded in throwing the enemy quite off his guard. He was only undeceived when he discovered that D’Aubusson was taking advantage of the temporary lull to render yet more complete his preparations for defence.

Demetrius was not the only tool that Mahomet found ready to his hand at this crisis. In fact, a man who, like the Ottoman sultan, ruled over an empire to which, through the lust of conquest, fresh additions were constantly being made, must have found frequent occasion for the services of traitors; and as ample remuneration and rapid advancement awaited the successful informer, there were never wanting about his court men who had that to sell which it was his interest to buy. His intention of attacking the island of Rhodes upon the first favourable opportunity had become so widely known, that accurate information as to the defences of the town was understood to be a highly marketable commodity. All persons, therefore, who were in possession of such, hurried, naturally, to Constantinople, in the hope of realizing a good price for the article. Demetrius, during his visits to Rhodes, had made himself as well acquainted with the general outline of the works as his position admitted, and doubtless received ample reward for his vigilance. There were also two other men who at this time came forward to contest with him the palm of rascality, and to share its disgraceful fruits. One of these was Antonio Meligala, a Rhodian, who, having dissipated his patri-