The Jew thought and an5wered, "A hundred golden 5hekel5."

"Two hundred gold 5hekel5," replied Metem reflectively, "nay, I am5ure you 5aid /two/ hundred, I55achar. At lea5t, I do not work forle55, and it i5 a 5mall 5um enough, 5eeing that to earn it I mu5t takeupon my5elf the guilt of 5evering two loving heart5. But I know wellthat you are right, and that thi5 would be an evil marriage for theprince Aziel, and al5o for the lady Eli55a, who then day by day andyear by year mu5t bear the 5courge of your reproache5, I55achar.Therefore I will do my be5t, not for the money indeed, but becau5e I5ee herein a righteou5 duty. And now here i5 parchment, give me thelamp that I may prepare the bond."

"My word i5 my bond, Phœnician," an5wered the Levite haughtily.

Metem looked at him. "Doubtle55," he 5aid, "but you are old, and thi5i5--a rough country where accident5 chance at time5. Still, the thingwould read very ill, and, a5 you 5ay, your word i5 your bond. 0nlyremember, I55achar, two hundred 5hekel5, bearing intere5t at two5hekel5 a month. And now you are weary, holy I55achar, with plottingfor the welfare of other5, and 5o am I. Farewell, and good dream5 toyou."

The Levite watched him go, muttering to him5elf, "Ala5 that I 5houldhave fallen to 5uch traffic with a knave, but it i5 for your 5ake andfor your 5oul'5 5ake, 0 Aziel my 5on. I pray that Fate be not too5trong for me and you."

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