Givenfromthisdenofthieves，aboutthehourofmatins，``AymerPr。S。M。Jorvolciencis。
``_Postscriptum_。Trulyyourgoldenchainhathnotlongabiddenwithme，andwillnowsustain，aroundtheneckofanoutlawdeer-stealer，thewhistlewherewithhecallethonhishounds。’’
``Whatsayestthoutothis，Conrade?’’saidtheGrandMaster——``Denofthieves！andafitresidenceisadenofthievesforsuchaPrior。NowonderthatthehandofGodisuponus，andthatintheHolyLandweloseplacebyplace，footbyfoot，beforetheinfidels，whenwehavesuchchurchmenasthisAymer——Andwhatmeanethhe，Itrow，bythissecondWitchofEndor?’’saidhetohisconfident，somethingapart。
Conradewasbetteracquaintedperhapsbypractice
withthejargonofgallantry，thanwashisSuperior；
andheexpoundedthepassagewhichembarrassedtheGrandMaster，tobeasortoflanguageusedbyworldlymentowardsthosewhomtheyloved_paramours_；buttheexplanationdidnotsatisfythebigotedBeaumanoir。
``Thereismoreinitthanthoudostguess，Conrade；thysimplicityisnomatchforthisdeepabyssofwickedness。ThisRebeccaofYorkwasapupilofthatMiriamofwhomthouhastheard。
ThoushaltheartheJewownitevennow。’’ThenturningtoIsaac，hesaidaloud，``Thydaughter，then，isprisonerwithBriandeBois-Guilbert?’’
``Ay，reverendvaloroussir，’’stammeredpoorIsaac，``andwhatsoeverransomapoormanmaypayforherdeliverance——’’
``Peace！’’saidtheGrandMaster。``Thisthydaughterhathpractisedtheartofhealing，hathshenot?’’
``Ay，gracioussir，’’answeredtheJew，withmoreconfidence；``andknightandyeoman，squireandvassal，mayblessthegoodlygiftwhichHeavenhathassignedtoher。Manyaonecantestifythatshehathrecoveredthembyherart，wheneveryotherhumanaidhathprovedvain；buttheblessingoftheGodofJacobwasuponher。’’
BeaumanoirturnedtoMont-Fitchetwithagrimsmile。``See，brother，’’hesaid，``thedeceptionsofthedevouringEnemy！Beholdthebaitswithwhichhefishesforsouls，givingapoorspaceofearthlylifeinexchangeforeternalhappinesshereafter。
Wellsaidourblessedrule，__Semperpercutiaturleovorans_——
Uponthelion！Downwiththedestroyer！’’saidhe，shakingalofthismysticabacus，asifindefianceofthepowersofdarkness——
``Thydaughterworkeththecures，Idoubtnot，’’
thushewentontoaddresstheJew，``bywordsandsighs，andperiapts，andothercabalisticalmysteries。’’
``Nay，reverendandbraveKnight，’’answeredIsaac，``butinchiefmeasurebyabalsamofmarvellousvirtue。’’
``Wherehadshethatsecret?’’saidBeaumanoir。
``Itwasdeliveredtoher，’’answeredIsaac，reluctantly，``byMiriam，asagematronofourtribe。’’
``Ah，falseJew！’’saidtheGrandMaster；``wasitnotfromthatsamewitchMiriam，theabominationofwhoseenchantmentshavebeenheardofthroughouteveryChristianland?’’exclaimedtheGrandMaster，crossinghimself。``Herbodywasburntatastake，andherasheswerescatteredtothefourwinds；andsobeitwithmeandmineOrder，ifIdonotasmuchtoherpupil，andmorealso！IwillteachhertothrowspellandincantationoverthesoldiersoftheblessedTemple——
There，Damian，spurnthisJewfromthegate——
shoothimdeadifheopposeorturnagain。WithhisdaughterwewilldealastheChristianlawandourownhighofficewarrant。’’
PoorIsaacwashurriedoffaccordingly，andexpelledfromthepreceptory；allhisentreaties，andevenhisoffers，unheardanddisregarded。HecoulddonotbetterthanreturntothehouseoftheRabbi，andendeavour，throughhismeans，tolearnhowhisdaughterwastobedisposedof。Hehadhithertofearedforherhonour，hewasnowtotrembleforherlife。Meanwhile，theGrandMasterorderedtohispresencethePreceptorofTemplestowe。
CHAPTERXXXVI
Saynotmyartisfraud——alllivebyseeming。
Thebeggarbegswithit，andthegaycourtierGainslandandtitle，rankandrule，byseeming；
Theclergyscornitnot，andtheboldsoldierWillekewithithisservice——Alladmitit，Allpractiseit；andhewhoiscontentWithshowingwhatheis，shallhavesmallcreditInchurch，orcamp，orstate——Sowagstheworld。
_OldPlay_。
AlbertMalvoisin，President，or，inthelanguageoftheOrder，PreceptoroftheestablishmentofTemplestowe，wasbrothertothatPhilipMalvoisinwhohasbeenalreadyoccasionallymentionedinthishistory，andwas，likethatbaron，incloseleaguewithBriandeBois-Guilbert。
Amongstdissoluteandunprincipledmen，ofwhomtheTempleOrderincludedbuttoomany，AlbertofTemplestowemightbedistinguished；
butwiththisdifferencefromtheaudaciousBois-Guilbert，thatheknewhowtothrowoverhisvicesandhisambitiontheveilofhypocrisy，andtoassumeinhisexteriorthefanaticismwhichbeinternallydespised。HadnotthearrivaloftheGrandMasterbeensounexpectedlysudden，hewouldhaveseennothingatTemplestowewhichmighthaveappearedtoargueanyrelaxationofdiscipline。
And，evenalthoughsurprised，and，toacertainextent，detected，AlbertMalvoisinlistenedwithsuchrespectandapparentcontritiontotherebukeofhisSuperior，andmadesuchhastetoreformtheparticularshecensured，——succeeded，infine，sowellingivinganairofasceticdevotiontoafamilywhichhadbeenlatelydevotedtolicenseandpleasure，thatLucasBeaumanoirbegantoentertainahigheropinionofthePreceptor’smorals，thanthefirstappearanceoftheestablishmenthadinclinedhimtoadopt。
ButthesefavourablesentimentsonthepartoftheGrandMasterweregreatlyshakenbytheintelligencethatAlberthadreceivedwithinahouseofreligiontheJewishcaptive，and，aswastobefeared，theparamourofabrotheroftheOrder；
andwhenAlbertappearedbeforehim，bewasregardedwithunwontedsternness。
``Thereisinthismansion，dedicatedtothepurposesoftheholyOrderoftheTemple，’’saidtheGrandMaster，inaseveretone，``aJewishwoman，broughthitherbyabrotherofreligion，byyourconnivance，SirPreceptor。’’
AlbertMalvoisinwasoverwhelmedwithconfusion；
fortheunfortunateRebeccahadbeenconfinedinaremoteandsecretpartofthebuilding，andeveryprecautionusedtopreventherresidencetherefrombeingknown。HereadinthelooksofBeaumanoirruintoBois-Guilbertandtohimself，unlessheshouldbeabletoaverttheimpendingstorm。
``Whyareyoumute?’’continuedtheGrandMaster。
``Isitpermittedtometoreply?’’answeredthePreceptor，inatoneofthedeepesthumility，althoughbythequestionheonlymeanttogainaninstant’sspaceforarranginghisideas。
``Speak，youarepermitted，’’saidtheGrandMaster——``speak，andsay，knowestthouthecapitalofourholyrule，——_DecommilitonibusTempliinsanctacivitate，quicunmiserrimismulieribusversantur，propteroblectationemcarnis?’’*
*Theedictwhichhequotes，isagainstcommunionwith*womenoflightcharacter。
``Surely，mostreverendfather，’’answeredthePreceptor，``IhavenotrisentothisofficeintheOrder，beingignorantofoneofitsmostimportantprohibitions。’’
``Howcomesit，then，Idemandoftheeoncemore，thatthouhastsufferedabrothertobringaparamour，andthatparamouraJewishsorceress，intothisholyplace，tothestainandpollutionthereof?’’
``AJewishsorceress！’’echoedAlbertMalvoisin；
``goodangelsguardus！’’
``Ay，brother，aJewishsorceress！’’saidtheGrandMaster，sternly。``Ihavesaidit。DarestthoudenythatthisRebecca，thedaughterofthatwretchedusurerIsaacofYork，andthepupilofthefoulwitchMiriam，isnow——shametobethoughtorspoken！——lodgedwithinthisthyPreceptory?’’
``Yourwisdom，reverendfather，’’answeredthePreceptor，``hathrolledawaythedarknessfrommyunderstanding。MuchdidIwonderthatsogoodaknightasBriandeBois-Guilbertseemedsofondlybesottedonthecharmsofthisfemale，whomIreceivedintothishousemerelytoplaceabarbetwixttheirgrowingintimacy，whichelsemighthavebeencementedattheexpenseofthefallofourvaliantandreligiousbrother。’’
``Hathnothing，then，asyetpassedbetwixttheminbreachofhisvow?’’demandedtheGrandMaster。
``What！underthisroof?’’saidthePreceptor，crossinghimself；``SaintMagdaleneandthetenthousandvirginsforbid！——No！ifIhavesinnedinreceivingherhere，itwasintheerringthoughtthatImightthusbreakoffourbrother’sbesotteddevotiontothisJewess，whichseemedtomesowildandunnatural，thatIcouldnotbutascribeittosometouchofinsanity，moretobecuredbypitythanreproof。ButsinceyourreverendwisdomhathdiscoveredthisJewishqueantobeasorceress，perchanceitmayaccountfullyforhisenamouredfolly。’’
``Itdoth！——itdoth！’’saidBeaumanoir。``See，brotherConrade，theperilofyieldingtothefirstdevicesandblandishmentsofSatan！Welookuponwomanonlytogratifythelustoftheeye，andtotakepleasureinwhatmencallherbeauty；
andtheAncientEnemy，thedevouringLion，obtainspoweroverus，tocomplete，bytalismanandspell，aworkwhichwasbegunbyidlenessandfolly。ItmaybethatourbrotherBois-Guilbertdoesinthismatterdeserveratherpitythanseverechastisement；
ratherthesupportofthestaff，thanthestrokesoftherod；andthatouradmonitionsandprayersmayturnhimfromhisfolly，andrestorehimtohisbrethren。’’
``Itweredeeppity，’’saidConradeMont-Fitchet，tolosetotheOrderoneofitsbestlances，whentheHolyCommunitymostrequirestheaidofitssons。ThreehundredSaracenshaththisBriandeBois-Guilbertslainwithhisownhand。’’
``Thebloodoftheseaccurseddogs，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``shallbeasweetandacceptableofferingtothesaintsandangelswhomtheydespiseandblaspheme；andwiththeiraidwillwecounteractthespellsandcharmswithwhichourbrotherisentwinedasinanet。HeshallburstthebandsofthisDelilah，asSampsonburstthetwonewcordswithwhichthePhilistineshadboundhim，andshallslaughtertheinfidels，evenheapsuponheaps。Butconcerningthisfoulwitch，whohathflungherenchantmentsoverabrotheroftheHolyTemple，assuredlysheshalldiethedeath。’’
``ButthelawsofEngland，’’——saidthePreceptor，who，thoughdelightedthattheGrandMaster’sresentment，thusfortunatelyavertedfromhimselfandBois-Guilbert，hadtakenanotherdirection，begannowtofearhewascarryingittoofar。
``ThelawsofEngland，’’interruptedBeaumanoir，``permitandenjoineachjudgetoexecutejusticewithinhisownjurisdiction。Themostpettybaronmayarrest，try，andcondemnawitchfoundwithinhisowndomain。AndshallthatpowerbedeniedtotheGrandMasteroftheTemplewithinapreceptoryofhisOrder?——No！——wewilljudgeandcondemn。Thewitchshallbetakenoutoftheland，andthewickednessthereofshallbeforgiven。PreparetheCastle-hallforthetrialofthesorceress。’’