Part 4 (1/2)
”Perfectly, perfectly. Why show such temper? The affair is one of business; let us discuss it in a business spirit. You wish to escape from Caesarea; I wish you to escape from my grain-store. Let me go out and arrange the matter.”
”On a plank; not otherwise unless we accompany you,” answered Nehushta.
”Man, why do you waste words with us. Listen. This lady is the only child of Benoni, the great merchant of Tyre. Doubtless you know him?”
”To my cost,” replied Amram, with a bow. ”Three times has he overreached me in various bargains.”
”Very well; then you know also that he is rich and will pay him liberally who rescues his daughter from great peril.”
”He might do so, but I am not sure.”
”I am sure,” answered Nehushta, ”and for this service my mistress here will give you a bill for any reasonable sum drawn upon her father.”
”Yes, but the question is--will he honour it? Benoni is a prejudiced man, a very prejudiced man, a Jew of the Jew, who--does not like Christians.”
”I think that he will honour it, I believe that he will honour it; but that risk is yours. See here, merchant, a doubtful draft is better than a slit throat.”
”Quite so. The argument is excellent. But you desire to escape. If you keep me here, how can I arrange the matter?”
”That is for you to consider. You do not leave this place except in our company, and then at the first sign of danger I drive this knife home between your shoulders. Meanwhile my mistress is ready to sign any moderate draft upon her father.”
”It is not necessary. Under the circ.u.mstances I think that I will trust to the generosity of my fellow trader Benoni. Meanwhile I a.s.sure you that nothing will give me greater happiness than to fall in with your views. Believe me, I have no prejudice against Christians, since those of them whom I have met were always honest and paid their debts in full.
I do not wish to see you or your mistress eaten by lions or tortured.
I shall be very glad to think that you are following the maxims of your peculiar faith to an extreme old age, anywhere, outside the limits of my grain-store. The question is, how can I help you do this? At present I see no way.”
”The question is--how will you manage to keep your life in you over the next twelve hours?” answered Nehushta grimly. ”Therefore I advise you to find a way”; and to emphasise her words she turned, and, having made sure that the door was locked, slipped its key into the bosom of her dress.
Amram stared at her in undisguised admiration. ”I would that I were unmarried,” he said, ”which is not the case,” and he sighed; ”for then, upon my word, I should be inclined to make a certain proposal to you----”
”Nehushta--that is my name----”
”Nehushta--exactly. Well, it is out of the question.”
”Quite.”
”Therefore I have a suggestion to make. To-night a s.h.i.+p of mine sails for Tyre. Will you honour me by accepting a pa.s.sage on her?”
”Certainly,” answered Nehushta, ”provided that you accompany us.”
”It was not my intention to go to Tyre this voyage.”
”Then your intention can be changed. Look you, we are desperate, and our lives are at stake. Your life is also at stake, and I swear to you, by the Holy One we wors.h.i.+p, that before any harm comes to my mistress you shall die. Then what will your wealth and your schemes avail you in the grave? It is a little thing we ask of you--to help two innocent people to escape from this accursed city. Will you grant it? Or shall I put this dagger through your throat? Answer, and at once, or I strike and bury you in your own corn.”
Even in that light Amram turned visibly paler. ”I accept your terms,”
he said. ”At nightfall I will conduct you to the s.h.i.+p, which sails two hours after sunset with the evening wind. I will accompany you to Tyre and deliver the lady over to her father, trusting to his liberality for my reward. Meanwhile, this place is hot. That ladder leads to the roof, which is parapeted, so that those sitting or even standing there, cannot be seen. Shall we ascend?”
”If you go first; and remember, should you attempt to call out, my knife is always ready.”