第41章

``Here，’’repliedFront-de-Buf，``hereitmustbedelivered——weigheditmustbe——weighedandtolddownonthisverydungeonfloor——ThinkestthouIwillpartwiththeeuntilthyransomissecure?’’

``Andwhatistobemysurety，’’saidtheJew，``thatIshallbeatlibertyafterthisransomispaid?’’

``ThewordofaNormannoble，thoupawn-brokingslave，’’answeredFront-de-Buf；``thefaithofaNormannobleman，morepurethanthegoldandsilveroftheeandallthytribe。’’

``Icravepardon，noblelord，’’saidIsaactimidly，``butwhereforeshouldIrelywhollyonthewordofonewhowilltrustnothingtomine?’’

``Becausethoucanstnothelpit，Jew，’’saidtheknight，sternly。``Wertthounowinthytreasure-chamberatYork，andwereIcravingaloanofthyshekels，itwouldbethinetodictatethetimeofpayment，andthepledgeofsecurity。Thisis_my_

treasure-chamber。HereIhavetheeatadvantage，norwillIagaindeigntorepeatthetermsonwhichIgranttheeliberty。’’

TheJewgroaneddeeply——``Grantme，’’hesaid，``atleastwithmyownliberty，thatofthecompanionswithwhomItravel。TheyscornedmeasaJew，yettheypitiedmydesolation，andbecausetheytarriedtoaidmebytheway，ashareofmyevilhathcomeuponthem；moreover，theymaycontributeinsomesorttomyransom。’’

``IfthoumeanestyonderSaxonchurls，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``theirransomwilldependuponothertermsthanthine。Mindthineownconcerns，Jew，Iwarnthee，andmeddlenotwiththoseofothers。’’

``Iam，then，’’saidIsaac，``onlytobesetatliberty，togetherwithminewoundedfriend?’’

``ShallItwicerecommendit，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``toasonofIsrael，tomeddlewithhisownconcerns，andleavethoseofothersalone?——Sincethouhastmadethychoice，itremainsbutthatthoupayestdownthyransom，andthatatashortday。’’

``Yethearme，’’saidtheJew——``forthesakeofthatverywealthwhichthouwouldstobtainattheexpenseofthy——’’Herehestoptshort，afraidofirritatingthesavageNorman。ButFront-de-Bufonlylaughed，andhimselffilleduptheblankatwhichtheJewhadhesitated。``Attheexpenseofmyconscience，thouwouldstsay，Isaac；speakitout——Itellthee，Iamreasonable。Icanbearthereproachesofaloser，evenwhenthatloserisaJew。

Thouwertnotsopatient，Isaac，whenthoudidstinvokejusticeagainstJacquesFitzdotterel，forcallingtheeausuriousblood-sucker，whenthyexactionshaddevouredhispatrimony。’’

``IswearbytheTalmud，’’saidtheJew，``thatyourvalourhasbeenmisledinthatmatter。Fitzdottereldrewhisponiarduponmeinmineownchamber，becauseIcravedhimformineownsilver。

ThetermofpaymentwasdueatthePassover。’’

``Icarenotwhathedid，’’saidFront-de-Buf；

``thequestionis，whenshallIhavemineown?——

whenshallIhavetheshekels，Isaac?’’

``LetmydaughterRebeccagoforthtoYork，’’

answeredIsaac，``withyoursafeconduct，nobleknight，andsosoonasmanandhorsecanreturn，thetreasure——’’Herehegroaneddeeply，butadded，afterthepauseofafewseconds，——``Thetreasureshallbetolddownonthisveryfloor。’’

``Thydaughter！’’saidFront-de-Buf，asifsurprised，——``Byheavens，Isaac，IwouldIhadknownofthis。Ideemedthatyonderblack-browedgirlhadbeenthyconcubine，andIgavehertobeahandmaidentoSirBriandeBois-Guilbert，afterthefashionofpatriarchsandheroesofthedaysofold，whosetusinthesemattersawholesomeexample。’’

TheyellwhichIsaacraisedatthisunfeelingcommunicationmadetheveryvaulttoring，andastoundedthetwoSaracenssomuchthattheyletgotheirholdoftheJew。Heavailedhimselfofhisenlargementtothrowhimselfonthepavement，andclaspthekneesofFront-de-Buf。

``Takeallthatyouhaveasked，’’saidhe，``SirKnight——taketentimesmore——reducemetoruinandtobeggary，ifthouwilt，——nay，piercemewiththyponiard，broilmeonthatfurnace，butsparemydaughter，deliverherinsafetyandhonour