beard. But even that little he did
not know, for God had deprived him of all understanding, and had
multiplied pestilence, and famine, and despair upon the people.
Therefore his people turned against us Jews, who are all people's dogs.
Why not? Lastly the Barons and the people rose together against the
King because of his cruelties. Nay--nay--the Barons did not love the
people, but they saw that if the King cut up and destroyed the common
people, he would presently destroy the Barons. They joined then, as
cats and pigs will join to slay a snake. I kept the accounts, and I
watched all these things, for I remembered the Prophecy.

'A great gathering of Barons (to most of whom we had lent money) came
to Bury, and there, after much talk and a thousand runnings-about, they
made a roll of the New Laws that they would force on the King. If he
swore to keep those Laws, they would allow him a little money. That was
the King's God--Money--to waste. They showed us the roll of the New
Laws. Why not? We had lent them money. We knew all their
counsels--we Jews shivering behind our doors in Bury.' He threw out
his hands suddenly. 'We did not seek to be paid all in money. We
sought Power--Power--Power! That is our God in our captivity. Power
to use!

'I said to Elias: "These New Laws are good. Lend no more money to the
King: so long as he has money he will lie and slay the people."

"'Nay," said Elias. "I know this people. They are madly cruel.
Better one King than a thousand butchers. I have lent a little money
to the Barons, or they would torture us, but my most I will lend to the
King. He hath promised me a place near him at Court, where my wife and
I shall be safe."

"'But if the King be made to keep these New Laws," I said, "the land
will have peace, and our trade will grow. If we lend he will fight
again."

"'Who made thee a Lawgiver in England?" said Elias. "I know this
people. Let the dogs tear one another! I will lend the King ten
thousand pieces of gold, and he can fight the Barons at his pleasure."

"'There are not two thousand pieces of gold in all England this
summer," I said, for I kept the accounts, and I knew how the earth's
gold moved--that wonderful underground river. Elias barred home the
windows, and, his hands about his mouth, he told me how, when he was
trading with small wares in a French ship, he had come to the Castle of
Pevensey.'

'Oh!' said Dan. 'Pevensey again!' and looked