``Itisaswellasitis，’’saidthePalmer；``thecompany，evenofaJew，canhardlyspreadcontaminationthroughanoakenpartition。’’
Sosaying，heenteredthecabinallottedtohim，andtakingthetorchfromthedomestic’shand，thankedhim，andwishedhimgood-night。Havingshutthedoorofhiscell，heplacedthetorchinacandlestickmadeofwood，andlookedaroundhissleepingapartment，thefurnitureofwhichwasofthemostsimplekind。Itconsistedofarudewoodenstool，andstillruderhutchorbed-frame，stuffedwithcleanstraw，andaccommodatedwithtwoorthreesheepskinsbywayofbed-clothes。
ThePalmer，havingextinguishedhistorch，threwhimself，withouttakingoffanypartofhisclothes，onthisrudecouch，andslept，oratleastretainedhisrecumbentposture，tilltheearliestsunbeamsfoundtheirwaythroughthelittlegratedwindow，whichservedatoncetoadmitbothairandlighttohisuncomfortablecell。Hethenstartedup，andafterrepeatinghismatins，andadjustinghisdress，heleftit，andenteredthatofIsaactheJew，liftingthelatchasgentlyashecould。
TheinmatewaslyingintroubledslumberuponacouchsimilartothatonwhichthePalmerhimselfhadpassedthenight。SuchpartsofhisdressastheJewhadlaidasideontheprecedingevening，weredisposedcarefullyaroundhisperson，asiftopreventthehazardoftheirbeingcarriedoffduringhisslumbers。Therewasatroubleonhisbrowamountingalmosttoagony。Hishandsandarmsmovedconvulsively，asifstrugglingwiththenightmare；andbesidesseveralejaculationsinHebrew，thefollowingweredistinctlyheardintheNorman-English，ormixedlanguageofthecountry：
``ForthesakeoftheGodofAbraham，spareanunhappyoldman！Iampoor，Iampenniless——shouldyourironswrenchmylimbsasunder，I
couldnotgratifyyou！’’
ThePalmerawaitednottheendoftheJew’svision，butstirredhimwithhispilgrim’sstaff。Thetouchprobablyassociated，asisusual，withsomeoftheapprehensionsexcitedbyhisdream；fortheoldmanstartedup，hisgreyhairstandingalmosterectuponhishead，andhuddlingsomepartofhisgarmentsabouthim，whileheheldthedetachedpieceswiththetenaciousgraspofafalcon，hefixeduponthePalmerhiskeenblackeyes，expressiveofwildsurpriseandofbodilyapprehension。
``Fearnothingfromme，Isaac，’’saidthePalmer，``Icomeasyourfriend。’’
``TheGodofIsraelrequiteyou，’’saidtheJew，greatlyrelieved；``Idreamed——ButFatherAbrahambepraised，itwasbutadream。’’Then，collectinghimself，headdedinhisusualtone，``AndwhatmayitbeyourpleasuretowantatsoearlyanhourwiththepoorJew?’’
``Itistotellyou，’’saidthePalmer，``thatifyouleavenotthismansioninstantly，andtravelnotwithsomehaste，yourjourneymayproveadangerousone。’’
``Holyfather！’’saidtheJew，``whomcoulditinteresttoendangersopoorawretchasIam?’’
``Thepurposeyoucanbestguess，’’saidthePilgrim；
``butrelyonthis，thatwhentheTemplarcrossedthehallyesternight，hespoketohisMussulmanslavesintheSaracenlanguage，whichIwellunderstand，andchargedthemthismorningtowatchthejourneyoftheJew，toseizeuponhimwhenataconvenientdistancefromthemansion，andtoconducthimtothecastleofPhilipdeMalvoisin，ortothatofReginaldFront-de-Buf。’’
ItisimpossibletodescribetheextremityofterrorwhichseizedupontheJewatthisinformation，andseemedatoncetooverpowerhiswholefaculties。
Hisarmsfelldowntohissides，andhisheaddroopedonhisbreast，hiskneesbentunderhisweight，everynerveandmuscleofhisframeseemedtocollapseandloseitsenergy，andhesunkatthefootofthePalmer，notinthefashionofonewhointentionallystoops，kneels，orprostrateshimselftoexcitecompassion，butlikeamanbornedownonallsidesbythepressureofsomeinvisibleforce，whichcrusheshimtotheearthwithoutthepowerofresistance。
``HolyGodofAbraham！’’washisfirstexclamation，foldingandelevatinghiswrinkledhands，butwithoutraisinghisgreyheadfromthepavement；
``Oh，holyMoses！O，blessedAaron！thedreamisnotdreamedfornought，andthevisioncomethnotinvain！Ifeeltheirironsalreadytearmysinews！Ifeeltherackpassovermybodylikethesaws，andharrows，andaxesofironoverthemenofRabbah，andofthecitiesofthechildrenofAmmon！’’
``Standup，Isaac，andhearkentome，’’saidthePalmer，whoviewedtheextremityofhisdistresswithacompassioninwhichcontemptwaslargelymingled；``youhavecauseforyourterror，consideringhowyourbrethrenhavebeenused，inordertoextortfromthemtheirhoards，bothbyprincesandnobles；butstandup，Isay，andIwillpointouttoyouthemeansofescape。Leavethismansioninstantly，whileitsinmatessleepsoundafterthelastnight’srevel。Iwillguideyoubythesecretpathsoftheforest，knownaswelltomeastoanyforesterthatrangesit，andIwillnotleaveyoutillyouareundersafeconductofsomechieforbarongoingtothetournament，whosegood-willyouhaveprobablythemeansofsecuring。’’
AstheearsofIsaacreceivedthehopesofescapewhichthisspeechintimated，hebegangradually，andinchbyinch，asitwere，toraisehimselfupfromtheground，untilhefairlyresteduponhisknees，throwingbackhislonggreyhairandbeard，andfixinghiskeenblackeyesuponthePalmer’sface，withalookexpressiveatonceofhopeandfear，notunmingledwithsuspicion。Butwhenheheardtheconcludingpartofthesentence，hisoriginalterrorappearedtoreviveinfullforce，andhedroptoncemoreonhisface，exclaiming，``_I_possessthemeansofsecuringgood-will！alas！thereisbutoneroadtothefavourofaChristian，andhowcanthepoorJewfindit，whomextortionshavealreadyreducedtothemiseryofLazarus?’’
Then，asifsuspicionhadoverpoweredhisotherfeelings，hesuddenlyexclaimed，``FortheloveofGod，youngman，betraymenot——forthesakeoftheGreatFatherwhomadeusall，JewaswellasGentile，IsraeliteandIshmaelite——domenotreason！
Ihavenotmeanstosecurethegood-willofaChristianbeggar，wereheratingitatasinglepenny。’’
Ashespoketheselastwords，heraisedhimself，andgraspedthePalmer’smantlewithalookofthemostearnestentreaty。Thepilgrimextricatedhimself，asiftherewerecontaminationinthetouch。
``Wertthouloadedwithallthewealthofthytribe，’’hesaid，``whatinteresthaveItoinjurethee?——InthisdressIamvowedtopoverty，nordoIchangeitforaughtsaveahorseandacoatofmail。YetthinknotthatIcareforthycompany，orproposemyselfadvantagebyit；remainhereifthouwilt——CedrictheSaxonmayprotectthee。’’
``Alas！’’saidtheJew，``hewillnotletmetravelinhistrain——SaxonorNormanwillbeequallyashamedofthepoorIsraelite；andtotravelbymyselfthroughthedomainsofPhilipdeMalvoisinandReginaldFront-de-Buf——Goodyouth，I
willgowithyou！——Letushaste——letusgirdupourloins——letusflee！——Hereisthystaff，whywiltthoutarry?’’
``Itarrynot，’’saidthePilgrim，givingwaytotheurgencyofhiscompanion；``butImustsecurethemeansofleavingthisplace——followme。’’
Heledthewaytotheadjoiningcell，which，asthereaderisapprised，wasoccupiedbyGurththeswineherd——``Arise，Gurth，’’saidthePilgrim，``arisequickly。Undotheposterngate，andletouttheJewandme。’’
Gurth，whoseoccupation，thoughnowheldsomean，gavehimasmuchconsequenceinSaxonEnglandasthatofEumaeusinIthaca，wasoffendedatthefamiliarandcommandingtoneassumedbythePalmer。``TheJewleavingRotherwood，’’
saidhe，raisinghimselfonhiselbow，andlookingsuperciliouslyathimwithoutquittinghispallet，``andtravellingincompanywiththePalmertoboot——’’
``Ishouldassoonhavedreamt，’’saidWamba，whoenteredtheapartmentattheinstant，``ofhisstealingawaywithagammonofbacon。’’
``Nevertheless，’’saidGurth，againlayingdownhisheadonthewoodenlogwhichservedhimforapillow，``bothJewandGentilemustbecontenttoabidetheopeningofthegreatgate——wesuffernovisitorstodepartbystealthattheseunseasonablehours。’’
``Nevertheless，’’saidthePilgrim，inacommandingtone，``youwillnot，Ithink，refusemethatfavour。’’
Sosaying，hestoopedoverthebedoftherecumbentswineherd，andwhisperedsomethinginhisearinSaxon。Gurthstartedupasifelectrified。
ThePilgrim，raisinghisfingerinanattitudeasiftoexpresscaution，added，``Gurth，beware——thouarewonttobeprudent。Isay，undothepostern——
thoushaltknowmoreanon。’’
WithhastyalacrityGurthobeyedhim，whileandtheJewfollowed，bothwonderingatthesuddenchangeintheswineherd’sdemeanour。
``Mymule，mymule！’’saidtheJew，assoonastheystoodwithoutthepostern。
``Fetchhimhismule，’’saidthePilgrim；``and，hearestthou，——letmehaveanother，thatImaybearhimcompanytillheisbeyondtheseparts——I
willreturnitsafelytosomeofCedric’strainatAshby。Anddothou’’——hewhisperedtherestinGurth’sear。
``Willingly，mostwillinglyshallitbedone，’’
saidGurth，andinstantlydepartedtoexecutethecommission。
``IwishIknew，’’saidWamba，whenhiscomrade’sbackwasturned，``whatyouPalmerslearnintheHolyLand。’’
``Tosayourorisons，fool，’’answeredthePilgrim，``torepentoursins，andtomortifyourselveswithfastings，vigils，andlongprayers。’’
``Somethingmorepotentthanthat，’’answeredtheJester；``forwhenwouldrepentanceorprayermakeGurthdoacourtesy，orfastingorvigilpersuadehimtolendyouamule?——ltrowyoumightaswellhavetoldhisfavouriteblackboarofthyvigilsandpenance，andwouldsthavegottenascivilananswer。’’
``Goto，’’saidthePilgrim，``thouartbutaSaxonfool。’’
``Thousaystwell。’’saidtheJester；``hadI