第21章

``FromtheDisinheritedKnight，’’saidGurth，``victorinthisday’stournament。ItisthepriceofthearmoursuppliedtohimbyKirjathJairamofLeicester，onthyrecommendation。Thesteedisrestoredtothystable。IdesiretoknowtheamountofthesumwhichIamtopayforthearmour。’’

``Isaidhewasagoodyouth！’’exclaimedIsaacwithjoyfulexultation。``Acupofwinewilldotheenoharm，’’headded，fillingandhandingtotheswineherdaricherdroughtthanGurthhadeverbeforetasted。”Andhowmuchmoney，’’continuedIsaac，``hasthoubroughtwiththee?’’

``HolyVirgin！’’saidGurth，settingdownthecup，``whatnectartheseunbelievingdogsdrink，whiletrueChristiansarefaintoquaffaleasmuddyandthickasthedraffwegivetohogs！——WhatmoneyhaveIbroughtwithme?’’continuedtheSaxon，whenhehadfinishedthisuncivilejaculation，``evenbutasmallsum；somethinginhandthewhilst。What，Isaac！thoumustbearaconscience，thoughitbeaJewishone。’’

``Nay，but，’’saidIsaac，``thymasterhaswongoodlysteedsandricharmourswiththestrengthofhislance，andofhisrighthand——but’tisagoodyouth——theJewwilltaketheseinpresentpayment，andrenderhimbackthesurplus。’’

``Mymasterhasdisposedofthemalready，’’saidGurth。

``Ah！thatwaswrong，’’saidtheJew，``thatwasthepartofafool。NoChristiansherecouldbuysomanyhorsesandarmour——noJewexceptmyselfwouldgivehimhalfthevalues。Butthouhastahundredzecchinswiththeeinthatbag，’’saidIsaac，pryingunderGurth’scloak，``itisaheavyone。’’

``Ihaveheadsforcross-bowboltsinit，’’saidGurth，readily。

``Well，then’’——saidIsaac，pantingandhesitatingbetweenhabitualloveofgainandanew-borndesiretobeliberalinthepresentinstance，``ifIshouldsaythatIwouldtakeeightyzecchinsforthegoodsteedandthericharmour，whichleavesmenotaguilder’sprofit，haveyoumoneytopayme?’’

``Barely，’’saidGurth，thoughthesumdemandedwasmorereasonablethanheexpected，``anditwillleavemymasternighpenniless。Nevertheless，ifsuchbeyourleastoffer，Imustbecontent。’’

``Fillthyselfanothergobletofwine，’’saidtheJew。``Ah！eightyzecchinsistoolittle。Itleavethnoprofitfortheusagesofthemoneys；and，besides，thegoodhorsemayhavesufferedwronginthisday’sencounter。O，itwasahardandadangerousmeeting！manandsteedrushingoneachotherlikewildbullsofBashan！Thehorsecannotbuthavehadwrong。’’

``AndIsay，’’repliedGurth，``heissound，windandlimb；andyoumayseehimnow，inyourstable。

AndIsay，overandabove，thatseventyzecchinsisenoughforthearmour，andIhopeaChristian’swordisasgoodasaJew’s。Ifyouwillnottakeseventy，Iwillcarrythisbag’’(andheshookittillthecontentsjingled)``backtomymaster。’’

``Nay，nay！’’saidIsaac；``laydownthetalents——theshekels——theeightyzecchins，andthoushaltseeIwillconsidertheeliberally。’’

Gurthatlengthcomplied；andtellingouteightyzecchinsuponthetable，theJewdeliveredouttohimanacquittanceforthehorseandsuitofarmour。

TheJew’shandtrembledforjoyashewrappedupthefirstseventypiecesofgold。Thelasttenhetoldoverwithmuchdeliberation，pausing，andsayingsomethingashetookeachpiecefromthetable，anddroptitintohispurse。Itseemedasifhisavaricewerestrugglingwithhisbetternature，andcompellinghimtopouchzecchinafterzecchinwhilehisgenerosityurgedhimtorestoresomepartatleasttohisbenefactor，orasadonationtohisagent。

Hiswholespeechrannearlythus：

``Seventy-one——seventy-two；thymasterisagoodyouth——seventy-three，anexce