w?"

"I fancy he guessed it, partly--and perhaps subtly extracted some avowal
from thee, in a way which thou didst not understand at the time."

"But, Father, I could not have told him, even unwittingly, for I did not
know it myself. I remember his asking me who Sir Richard was, as we
passed through the hall,--yes, and he said to old Hamon that he owed him
a grudge. He asked me, too, after that, if Sir Richard were attached to
Margaret."

"What didst thou say?"

"That I thought it might be so; but I did not know."

"Well! I am thankful thou couldst tell him no more. I suppose he
pieced things together, and very likely jumped the last yard. Howbeit,
he did it. My son, my only one! If there were an altar yet left in
Israel, it should smoke with a hecatomb of lambs for him."

"All Israelites would not think it wicked, my father. They think all
Gentiles fair prey."

"What, after they have eaten of their salt? Child, when the Lady had
been kind to thee, I could not have touched a hair of any head she
loved. Had the Messiah come that day, and all Gentiles been made our
bond-slaves, I would have besought for her to fall to me, that I might
free her without an instant's suspense."

"Yes, my father, _thou_ wouldst," answered Beatrice, affectionately.
"But I do not think thou ever didst hate Christians as some of our
nation do."

"Child, Belasez! how could I, when the best love of my white dove's
heart had been given to a Christian and a Gentile? I loved her, more
than thou canst imagine. But would my love have been true, had I hated
what she loved best? Where is thy father, my darling?"

Beatrice was just about to say that she could not tell, when she looked
up and saw him. The greeting between Abraham and Bruno was very cordial
now. Bruno smiled gravely when he heard of the further exploits of
Licorice with the broom; but a very sad, almost stern, expression came
into his eyes, when he was told the discovery concerning Delecresse.

"Keep it quiet, my father," he said. "The Lord will repay. May it be
not in justice, but with His mercy!"

Then Abraham and his pack were had up to the bower, and large purchases
made of Damascene and Cyprus stuffs. When he went away, Bruno walked
with him across the yard, and as they clasped hands in farewell,
suddenly asked him what he thought of the damsel Margaret.

"Can there be any question?" answered Abraham, pityingly. "Hath not
Azrael [the Angel of Death] s