Part 16 (1/2)

The man was old and very handsome. His dark eyes were quick and full of fire, his nose was hooked like the beak of a bird of prey, his hair and beard were long and snowy white. His robes also were rich and splendid, and over them, since at this season of the year even at Tyre it was cold, he wore a cloak of costly northern furs. The house was worthy of its owner. Built throughout of the purest marble, the rooms were roofed and panelled with sweet-smelling cedar of Lebanon, whence hung many silver lamps, and decorated by statuary and frescoes. On the marble floors were spread rugs, beautifully wrought in colours, while here and there stood couches, tables and stools, fas.h.i.+oned for the most part of ebony from Libya, inlaid with ivory and pearl.

Benoni, the owner of all this wealth, having finished his business for that day--the taking count of a s.h.i.+pload of merchandise which had reached him from Egypt--had eaten his midday meal and now sought his couch under the portico to rest a while in the sun. Reclining on the cus.h.i.+ons, soon he was asleep; but it would seem that his dreams were unhappy--at the least he turned from side to side muttering and moving his hands. At last he sat up with a start.

”Oh, Rachel, Rachel!” he moaned, ”why will you haunt my sleep? Oh! my child, my child, have I not suffered enough? Must you bring my sin back to me in this fas.h.i.+on? May I not shut my eyes even here in the sunlight and be at peace a while? What have you to tell me that you come thus often to stand here so strengthless and so still? Nay, it is not you; it is my sin that wears your shape!” and Benoni hid his face in his hands, rocking himself to and fro and moaning aloud.

Presently he sprang up. ”It was no sin,” he said, ”it was a righteous act. I offered her to the outraged majesty of Jehovah, as Abraham, our father, would have offered Isaac, but the curse of that false prophet is upon me and mine. That was the fault of Demas, the half-bred hound who crept into my kennel, and whom, because she loved him, I gave to her as husband. Thus did he repay me, the traitor, and I--I repaid him. Ay! But the sword fell upon two necks. He should have suffered, and he alone.

Oh, Rachel, my lost daughter Rachel, forgive me, you whose bones lie there beneath the sea, forgive me! I cannot bear those eyes of yours. I am old, Rachel, I am old.”

Thus Benoni muttered to himself, as he walked swiftly to and fro; then, worn out with his burst of solitary, dream-bred pa.s.sion, he sank back upon the couch.

As he sat thus, an Arab doorkeeper, gorgeously apparelled and armed with a great sword, appeared in the portico, and after looking carefully to see that his master was not asleep, made a low salaam.

”What is it?” asked Benoni shortly.

”Master, a young lord named Caleb wishes speech with you.”

”Caleb? I know not the name,” replied Benoni. ”Stay, it must be the son of Hilliel, whom the Roman governor”--and turning, he spat upon the ground--”has brought to his own again. I heard that he had come to take possession of the great house on the quay. Bring him hither.”

The Arab saluted and went. Presently he returned and ushered in Caleb, now a n.o.ble-looking young man clad in fine raiment. Benoni bowed to him and prayed him to be seated. Caleb bowed in return, touching his forehead in Eastern fas.h.i.+on with his hand, from which, as his host noticed, the forefinger was missing.

”I am your servant, sir,” said Benoni with grave courtesy.

”Master, I am your slave,” answered Caleb. ”I have been told that you knew my father; therefore, on this, my first visit to Tyre, I come to make my respects to you. I am the son of Hilliel, who perished many years ago in Jerusalem. You may have heard his story and mine.”

”Yes,” answered Benoni scanning his visitor, ”I knew Hilliel--a clever man, but one who fell into a trap at last, and I see that you are his son. Your face proves it; indeed, it might be Hilliel who stands before me.”

”I am proud that you should say so,” answered Caleb, though already he guessed that between Benoni and his father no love had been lost. ”You know,” he added, ”that certain of our people seized my inheritance, which now has been restored to me--in part.”

”By Gessius Florus the procurator, I think, who on this account, has cast many Jews--some of them innocent--into prison.”

”Indeed! Is that so? Well, it was concerning this Florus that I came chiefly to ask your advice. The Roman has kept a full half of my property,” and Caleb sighed and looked indignant.

”You are indeed fortunate that he has not kept it all.”

”I have been brought up in the desert far from cities,” pleaded Caleb.

”Is there no law by which I may have justice of this man? Cannot you help me who are great among our people?”

”None,” answered Benoni. ”Roman citizens have rights, Jews what they can get. You can appeal to Caesar if you wish, as the jackal appealed to the lion. But if you are wise you will be content with half the carcase.

Also I am not great; I am but an old merchant without authority.”

Caleb looked downfallen. ”It seems that the days are hard for us Jews,”

he said. ”Well, I will be content and strive to forgive my enemies.”

”Better be content and strive to smite your enemies,” answered Benoni.

”You who were poor are rich; for this much thank G.o.d.”

”Night and morning I do thank Him,” replied Caleb earnestly and with truth.