ian, anxious to rescue barbara, asks for the king's help in rescuing her, but the irritated monarch tells ian that barbara can remain with saladin until her death. de tornebu and the doctor are able to convince the king to change his mind. ian is knighted "sir ian of jaffa" so that he may serve as an emissary, and is sent to saladin's court to both request the release of des preaux and barbara, and to offer the hand of the real lady joanna in marriage to saphadin in order to create peace. this makes joanna indignant and she refuses her consent.