第73章

Givenfromthisdenofthieves，aboutthehourofmatins，``AymerPr。S。M。Jorvolciencis。

``_Postscriptum_。Trulyyourgoldenchainhathnotlongabiddenwithme，andwillnowsustain，aroundtheneckofanoutlawdeer-stealer，thewhistlewherewithhecallethonhishounds。’’

``Whatsayestthoutothis，Conrade?’’saidtheGrandMaster——``Denofthieves！andafitresidenceisadenofthievesforsuchaPrior。NowonderthatthehandofGodisuponus，andthatintheHolyLandweloseplacebyplace，footbyfoot，beforetheinfidels，whenwehavesuchchurchmenasthisAymer——Andwhatmeanethhe，Itrow，bythissecondWitchofEndor?’’saidhetohisconfident，somethingapart。

Conradewasbetteracquainted(perhapsbypractice)

withthejargonofgallantry，thanwashisSuperior；

andheexpoundedthepassagewhichembarrassedtheGrandMaster，tobeasortoflanguageusedbyworldlymentowardsthosewhomtheyloved_paramours_；buttheexplanationdidnotsatisfythebigotedBeaumanoir。

``Thereismoreinitthanthoudostguess，Conrade；thysimplicityisnomatchforthisdeepabyssofwickedness。ThisRebeccaofYorkwasapupilofthatMiriamofwhomthouhastheard。

ThoushaltheartheJewownitevennow。’’ThenturningtoIsaac，hesaidaloud，``Thydaughter，then，isprisonerwithBriandeBois-Guilbert?’’

``Ay，reverendvaloroussir，’’stammeredpoorIsaac，``andwhatsoeverransomapoormanmaypayforherdeliverance——’’

``Peace！’’saidtheGrandMaster。``Thisthydaughterhathpractisedtheartofhealing，hathshenot?’’

``Ay，gracioussir，’’answeredtheJew，withmoreconfidence；``andknightandyeoman，squireandvassal，mayblessthegoodlygiftwhichHeavenhathassignedtoher。Manyaonecantestifythatshehathrecoveredthembyherart，wheneveryotherhumanaidhathprovedvain；buttheblessingoftheGodofJacobwasuponher。’’

BeaumanoirturnedtoMont-Fitchetwithagrimsmile。``See，brother，’’hesaid，``thedeceptionsofthedevouringEnemy！Beholdthebaitswithwhichhefishesforsouls，givingapoorspaceofearthlylifeinexchangeforeternalhappinesshereafter。

Wellsaidourblessedrule，__Semperpercutiaturleovorans_——

Uponthelion！Downwiththedestroyer！’’saidhe，shakingalofthismysticabacus，asifindefianceofthepowersofdarkness——

``Thydaughterworkeththecures，Idoubtnot，’’

thushewentontoaddresstheJew，``bywordsandsighs，andperiapts，andothercabalisticalmysteries。’’

``Nay，reverendandbraveKnight，’’answeredIsaac，``butinchiefmeasurebyabalsamofmarvellousvirtue。’’

``Wherehadshethatsecret?’’saidBeaumanoir。

``Itwasdeliveredtoher，’’answeredIsaac，reluctantly，``byMiriam，asagematronofourtribe。’’

``Ah，falseJew！’’saidtheGrandMaster；``wasitnotfromthatsamewitchMiriam，theabominationofwhoseenchantmentshavebeenheardofthroughouteveryChristianland?’’exclaimedtheGrandMaster，crossinghimself。``Herbodywasburntatastake，andherasheswerescatteredtothefourwinds；andsobeitwithmeandmineOrder，ifIdonotasmuchtoherpupil，andmorealso！IwillteachhertothrowspellandincantationoverthesoldiersoftheblessedTemple——

There，Damian，spurnthisJewfromthegate——

shoothimdeadifheopposeorturnagain。WithhisdaughterwewilldealastheChristianlawandourownhighofficewarrant。’’

PoorIsaacwashurriedoffaccordingly，andexpelledfromthepreceptory；allhisentreaties，andevenhisoffers，unheardanddisregarded。HecoulddonotbetterthanreturntothehouseoftheRabbi，andendeavour，throughhismeans，tolearnhowhisdaughterwast