``Toyoufour，sirs，’’repliedtheKnight，addressingthosewhohadlastspoken，``andtoyourhonourableandvaliantmasters，Ihaveonecommonreply。Commendmetothenobleknights，yourmasters，andsay，Ishoulddoilltodeprivethemofsteedsandarmswhichcanneverbeusedbybravercavaliers——IwouldIcouldhereendmymessagetothesegallantknights；butbeing，asI
　　termmyself，intruthandearnest，theDisinherited，Imustbethusfarboundtoyourmasters，thattheywill，oftheircourtesy，bepleasedtoransomtheirsteedsandarmour，sincethatwhichIwearIcanhardlytermmineown。’’
　　``Westandcommissioned，eachofus，’’answeredthesquireofReginaldFront-de-Buf，``toofferahundredzecchinsinransomofthesehorsesandsuitsofarmour。’’
　　``Itissufficient，’’saidtheDisinheritedKnight。
　　``Halfthesummypresentnecessitiescompelmetoaccept；oftheremaininghalf，distributeonemoietyamongyourselves，sirsquires，anddividetheotherhalfbetwixttheheraldsandthepursuivants，andminstrels，andattendants。’’
　　Thesquires，withcapinhand，andlowreverences，expressedtheirdeepsenseofacourtesyandgenerositynotoftenpractised，atleastuponascalesoextensive。TheDisinheritedKnightthenaddressedhisdiscoursetoBaldwin，thesquireofBriandeBois-Guilbert。``Fromyourmaster，’’saidhe，``Iwillacceptneitherarmsnorransom。Saytohiminmyname，thatourstrifeisnotended——no，nottillwehavefoughtaswellwithswordsaswithlances——aswellonfootasonhorseback。Tothismortalquarrelhehashimselfdefiedme，andIshallnotforgetthechallenge——Meantime，lethimbeassured，thatIholdhimnotasoneofhiscompanions，withwhomIcanwithpleasureexchangecourtesies；butratherasonewithwhomIstandupontermsofmortaldefiance。’’
　　``Mymaster，’’answeredBaldwin，``knowshowtorequitescornwithscorn，andblowswithblows，aswellascourtesywithcourtesy，Sinceyoudisdaintoacceptfromhimanyshareoftheransomatwhichyouhaveratedthearmsoftheotherknights，Imustleavehisarmourandhishorsehere，beingwellassuredthathewillneverdeigntomounttheonenorweartheother。’’
　　``Youhavespokenwell，goodsquire，’’saidtheDisinheritedKnight，``wellandboldly，asitbeseemethhimtospeakwhoanswersforanabsentmaster。Leavenot，however，thehorseandarmourhere。Restorethemtothymaster；or，ifhescornstoacceptthem，retainthem，goodfriend，forthineownuse。Sofarastheyaremine，Ibestowthemuponyoufreely。’’
　　Baldwinmadeadeepobeisance，andretiredwithhiscompanions；andtheDisinheritedKnightenteredthepavilion。
　　``Thusfar，Gurth，’’saidhe，addressinghisattendant，``thereputationofEnglishchivalryhathnotsufferedinmyhands。’’
　　``AndI，’’saidGurth，``foraSaxonswineherd，havenotillplayedthepersonageofaNormansquire-at-arms。’’
　　``Yea，but，’’answeredtheDisinheritedKnight，thouhasteverkeptmeinanxietylestthyclownishbearingshoulddiscoverthee。’’
　　``Tush！’’saidGurth，``Ifeardiscoveryfromnone，savingmyplayfellow，WambatheJester，ofwhomIcouldneverdiscoverwhetherheweremostknaveorfool。YetIcouldscarcechoosebutlaugh，whenmyoldmasterpassedsoneartome，dreamingallthewhilethatGurthwaskeepinghisporkersmanyamileoff，inthethicketsandswampsofRotherwood。IfIamdiscovered——’’
　　``Enough，’’saidtheDisinheritedKnight，``thouknowestmypromise。’’
　　``Nay，forthatmatter，’’saidGurth，``Iwillneverfailmyfriendforfearofmyskin-cutting。I
　　haveatoughhide，thatwillbearknifeorscourgeaswellasanyboar’shideinmyherd。’’
　　``Trustme，Iwillrequitetheriskyourunformylove，Gurth，’’saidtheKnight。``Meanwhile，Iprayyoutoacceptthesetenpiecesofgold。’’
　　``Iamricher，’’saidGurth，puttingthemintohispouch，``thaneverwasswineherdorbondsman。’’
　　``TakethisbagofgoldtoAshby，’’continuedhismaster，``andfindoutIsaactheJewofYork，andlethimpayhimselfforthehorseandarmswithwhichhiscreditsuppliedme。’’
　　``Nay，byStDunstan，’’repliedGurth，``thatI
　　willnotdo。’’
　　``How，knave，’’repliedhismaster，``wiltthounotobeymycommands?’’
　　``Sotheybehonest，reasonable，andChristiancommands，’’repliedGurth；``butthisisnoneofthese。TosuffertheJewtopayhimselfwouldbedishonest，foritwouldbecheatingmymaster；andunreasonable，foritwerethepartofafool；andunchristian，sinceitwouldbeplunderingabelievertoenrichaninfidel。’’
　　``Seehimcontented，however，thoustubbornvarlet，’’saidtheDisinheritedKnight。
　　``Iwilldoso，’’saidGurth，takingthebagunderhiscloak，andleavingtheapartment；``anditwillgohard，’’hemuttered，``butIcontenthimwithone-halfofhisownasking。’’Sosaying，hedeparted，andlefttheDisinheritedKnighttohisownperplexedruminations；which，uponmoreaccountsthanitisnowpossibletocommunicatetothereader，wereofanaturepeculiarlyagitatingandpainful。
　　WemustnowchangethescenetothevillageofAshby，orrathertoacountryhouseinitsvicinitybelongingtoawealthyIsraelite，withwhomIsaac，hisdaughter，andretinue，hadtakenuptheirquarters；
　　theJews，itiswellknown，beingasliberalinexercisingthedutiesofhospitalityandcharityamongtheirownpeople，astheywereallegedtobereluctantandchurlishinextendingthemtothosewhomtheytermedGentiles，andwhosetreatmentofthemcertainlymeritedlittlehospitalityattheirhand。
　　Inanapartment，smallindeed，butrichlyfurnishedwithdecorationsofanOrientaltaste，Rebeccawasseatedonaheapofembroideredcushions，which，piledalongalowplatformthatsurroundedthechamber，served，liketheestradaoftheSpaniards，insteadofchairsandstools。Shewaswatchingthemotionsofherfatherwithalookofanxiousandfilialaffection，whilehepacedtheapartmentwithadejectedmienanddisorderedstep；sometimesclaspinghishandstogether——sometimescastinghiseyestotheroofoftheapartment，asonewholabouredundergreatmentaltribulation。``O，Jacob！’’heexclaimed——``O，allyetwelveHolyFathersofourtribe！whatalosingventureisthisforonewhohathdulykepteveryjotandtittleofthelawofMoses——Fiftyzecchinswrenchedfrommeatoneclutch，andbythetalonsofatyrant！’’
　　``But，father，’’saidRebecca，``youseemedtogivethegoldtoPrinceJohnwillingly。’’
　　``Willingly?theblotchofEgyptuponhim！——
　　Willingly，saidstthou?——Ay，aswillinglyaswhen，intheGulfofLyons，Iflungovermymerchandisetolightentheship，whileshelabouredinthetempest——robedtheseethingbillowsinmychoicesilks——perfumedtheirbrinyfoamwithmyrrhandaloes——enrichedtheircavernswithgoldandsilverwork！Andwasnotthatanhourofunutterablemisery，thoughmyownhandsmadethesacrifice?’’
　　``ButitwasasacrificewhichHeavenexactedtosaveourlives，’’answeredRebecca，``andtheGodofourfathershassinceblessedyourstoreandyourgettings。’’
　　``Ay，’’answeredIsaac，``butifthetyrantlaysholdonthemashedidto-day，andcompelsmetosmilewhileheisrobbingme?——O，daughter，disinheritedandwanderingasweare，theworstevilwhichbefallsourraceis，thatwhenwearewrongedandplundered，alltheworldlaughsaround，andwearecompelledtosuppressoursenseofinjury，andtosmiletamely，whenwewouldrevengebravely。’’
　　``Thinknotthusofit，myfather，’’saidRebecca；
　　``wealsohaveadvantages。TheseGentiles，cruelandoppressiveastheyare，areinsomesortdependentonthedispersedchildrenofZion，whomtheydespiseandpersecute。Withouttheaidofourwealth，theycouldneitherfurnishforththeirhostsinwar，northeirtriumphsinpeace，andthegoldwhichwelendthemreturnswithincreasetoourcoffers。Weareliketheherbwhichflourishethmostwhenitismosttrampledon。Eventhisday’spageanthadnotproceededwithouttheconsentofthedespisedJew，whofurnishedthemeans。’’
　　``Daughter，’’saidIsaac，``thouhastharpeduponanotherstringofsorrow。Thegoodlysteedandthericharmour，equaltothefullprofitofmyadventurewithourKirjathJairamofLeicester——
　　thereisadeadlosstoo——ay，alosswhichswallowsupthegainsofaweek；ay，ofthespacebetweentwoSabaoths——andyetitmayendbetterthanI
　　nowthink，for’tisagoodyouth。’’
　　``Assuredly，’’saidRebecca，``youshallnotrepentyouofrequitingthegooddeedreceivedofthestrangerknight。’’
　　``Itrustso，daughter，’’saidIsaac，``andItrusttoointherebuildingofZion；butaswelldoI
　　hopewithmyownbodilyeyestoseethewallsandbattlementsofthenewTemple，astoseeaChristian，yea，theverybestofChristians，repayadebttoaJew，unlessundertheaweofthejudgeandjailor。’’
　　Sosaying，heresumedhisdiscontentedwalkthroughtheapartment；andRebecca，perceivingthatherattemptsatconsolationonlyservedtoawakennewsubjectsofcomplaint，wiselydesistedfromherunavailingefforts——aprudentiallineofconduct，andwerecommendtoallwhosetupforcomfortersandadvisers，tofollowitinthelikecircumstances。
　　Theeveningwasnowbecomingdark，whenaJewishservantenteredtheapartment，andplaceduponthetabletwosilverlamps，fedwithperfumedoil；therichestwines，andthemostdelicaterefreshments，wereatthesametimedisplayedbyanotherIsraelitishdomesticonasmallebonytable，inlaidwithsilver；for，intheinterioroftheirhouses，theJewsrefusedthemselvesnoexpensiveindulgences。AtthesametimetheservantinformedIsaac，thataNazarenesotheytermedChristians，whileconversingamongthemselves
　　desiredtospeakwithhim。Hethatwouldlivebytraffic，mustholdhimselfatthedisposalofeveryoneclaimingbusinesswithhim。IsaacatoncereplacedonthetabletheuntastedglassofGreekwinewhichhehadjustraisedtohislips，andsayinghastilytohisdaughter，``Rebecca，veilthyself，’’
　　commandedthestrangertobeadmitted。
　　JustasRebeccahaddroppedoverherfinefeaturesascreenofsilvergauzewhichreachedtoherfeet，thedooropened，andGurthentered，wraptintheamplefoldsofhisNormanmantle。Hisappearancewasrathersuspiciousthanprepossessing，especiallyas，insteadofdoffinghisbonnet，hepulleditstilldeeperoverhisruggedbrow。
　　``ArtthouIsaactheJewofYork?’’saidGurth，inSaxon。
　　``Iam，’’repliedIsaac，inthesamelanguage，forhistraffichadrenderedeverytonguespokeninBritainfamiliartohim——``andwhoartthou?’’
　　``Thatisnottothepurpose，’’answeredGurth。
　　``Asmuchasmynameistothee，’’repliedIsaac；
　　``forwithoutknowingthine，howcanIholdintercoursewiththee?’’
　　``Easily，’’answeredGurth；``I，beingtopaymoney，mustknowthatIdeliverittotherightperson；thou，whoaretoreceiveit，willnot，I
　　think，careverygreatlybywhosehandsitisdelivered。’’
　　``O，’’saidtheJew，``youarecometopaymoneys?
　　HolyFatherAbraham！thatalterethourrelationtoeachother。Andfromwhomdostthoubringit?’’