第67章

``Ay，Jew，’’saidPriorAymer；``kneeltoGod，asrepresentedintheservantofhisaltar，andwhoknows，withthysincererepentanceandduegiftstotheshrineofSaintRobert，whatgracethoumaystacquireforthyselfandthydaughterRebecca?I

grieveforthemaiden，forsheisoffairandcomelycountenance，——IbeheldherinthelistsofAshby。

AlsoBriandeBois-GuilbertisonewithwhomI

maydomuch——bethinktheehowthoumaystdeservemygoodwordwithhim。’’

``Alas！alas！’’saidtheJew，``oneveryhandthespoilersariseagainstme——IamgivenasapreyuntotheAssyrian，andapreyuntohimofEgypt。’’

``Andwhatelseshouldbethelotofthyaccursedrace?’’answeredthePrior；``forwhatsaithholywrit，_verbumDominiiprojecterunt，etsapientiaestnullaineis_——theyhavecastforththewordoftheLord，andthereisnowisdominthem；_proptereadabomuliereseorumexteris_——Iwillgivetheirwomentostrangers，thatistotheTemplar，asinthepresentmatter；_etthesauroseorumhredibusalienis_，andtheirtreasurestoothers——asinthepresentcasetothesehonestgentlemen。’’

Isaacgroaneddeeply，andbegantowringhishands，andtorelapseintohisstateofdesolationanddespair。Buttheleaderoftheyeomenledhimaside。

``Advisetheewell，Isaac，’’saidLocksley，``whatthouwiltdointhismatter；mycounseltotheeistomakeafriendofthischurchman。Heisvain，Isaac，andheiscovetous；atleastheneedsmoneytosupplyhisprofusion。Thoucansteasilygratifyhisgreed；forthinknotthatIamblindedbythypretextsofpoverty。Iamintimatelyacquainted，Isaac，withtheveryironchestinwhichthoudostkeepthymoney-bags——What！knowInotthegreatstonebeneaththeapple-tree，thatleadsintothevaultedchamberunderthygardenatYork?’’

TheJewgrewaspaleasdeath——``Butfearnothingfromme，’’continuedtheyeoman，``forweareofoldacquainted。DostthounotrememberthesickyeomanwhomthyfairdaughterRebeccaredeemedfromthegyvesatYork，andkepthiminthyhousetillhishealthwasrestored，whenthoudidstdismisshimrecovered，andwithapieceofmoney?——Usurerasthouart，thoudidstneverplacecoinatbetterinterestthanthatpoorsilvermark，forithasthisdaysavedtheefivehundredcrowns。’’

``AndthouarthewhomwecalledDicconBend-the-Bow?’’

saidIsaac；``IthoughteverIknewtheaccentofthyvoice。’’

``IamBend-the-Bow，’’saidtheCaptain，``andLocksley，andhaveagoodnamebesidesallthese。’’

``Butthouartmistaken，goodBend-the-Bow，concerningthatsamevaultedapartment。SohelpmeHeaven，asthereisnoughtinitbutsomemerchandiseswhichIwillgladlypartwithtoyou——

onehundredyardsofLincolngreentomakedoubletstothymen，andahundredstavesofSpanishyewtomakebows，andahundredsilkenbowstrings，tough，round，andsound——thesewillIsendtheeforthygood-will，honestDiccon，anthouwiltkeepsilenceaboutthevault，mygoodDiccon。’’

``Silentasadormouse，’’saidtheOutlaw；``andnevertrustmebutIamgrievedforthydaughter。

ButImaynothelpit——T