Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/324

 306 THE FALL OF CONSTANTLOPLE. Dandolo and the Marquis of Montferrat and young Alexis went on board one of them, and a crowd of barons Young Alexis t ■, > ■,. mi ^^ c r^ is Shown to and kni2:hts into the others. The walls of Con- the citizens. • i i stantinople then, as now, came down to the water s edge through two thirds of their extent. The tideless waters of the Marmora and the Golden Horn are deep enough within ten feet of the walls to float larger vessels than the great gal- leys of the Venetians. The procession crossed the Bosphorus. The walls were crowded with spectators. The boats went quite near and then stopped. " Here," proclaimed some one on board the galley containing Alexis — " here is your rightful lord. We have not come to do you any liarm. We will pro- tect you if you do what you ought. He whom you obey rules you wrongfully against God and law. You know how disloyally he behaved to his lord and his brother, how he put out his eyes and usurped his empire. Here is the real heir. If you do not acknowledge him we will do the worst we can against you." The proclamation was received with laughter. The only answer given, and that in derision, was, " We know nothing about him. Who is he?"' The Crusaders returned to Scutari. Next day a parlia- Preparations iT^Gut was held to considcr what steps should be for an attack, ^akcn for attacking the city. It was agreed that the army should be divided into seven parts. Baldwin of Flanders was appointed to lead the van, because of the great number of archers and crossbowmen who were under his command. The Marquis of Montferrat was to bring up the rear with the Lombards, Tuscans, Germans, and men from the country between Mont Cenis and Lyons. The business in hand was felt to be a serious one. There was apparently no longer any disaffection. The consciences of all had been quieted or their scruples overcome by the prospect of rich booty. All that remained was to fulfil their part of the contract and to receive their reward. But many a stout heart quailed at the prospect of the difficult under- ^ Robert de Clari, xi.