``Here，’’repliedFront-de-Buf，``hereitmustbedelivered——weigheditmustbe——weighedandtolddownonthisverydungeonfloor——ThinkestthouIwillpartwiththeeuntilthyransomissecure?’’
``Andwhatistobemysurety，’’saidtheJew，``thatIshallbeatlibertyafterthisransomispaid?’’
``ThewordofaNormannoble，thoupawn-brokingslave，’’answeredFront-de-Buf；``thefaithofaNormannobleman，morepurethanthegoldandsilveroftheeandallthytribe。’’
``Icravepardon，noblelord，’’saidIsaactimidly，``butwhereforeshouldIrelywhollyonthewordofonewhowilltrustnothingtomine?’’
``Becausethoucanstnothelpit，Jew，’’saidtheknight，sternly。``Wertthounowinthytreasure-chamberatYork，andwereIcravingaloanofthyshekels，itwouldbethinetodictatethetimeofpayment，andthepledgeofsecurity。Thisis_my_
treasure-chamber。HereIhavetheeatadvantage，norwillIagaindeigntorepeatthetermsonwhichIgranttheeliberty。’’
TheJewgroaneddeeply——``Grantme，’’hesaid，``atleastwithmyownliberty，thatofthecompanionswithwhomItravel。TheyscornedmeasaJew，yettheypitiedmydesolation，andbecausetheytarriedtoaidmebytheway，ashareofmyevilhathcomeuponthem；moreover，theymaycontributeinsomesorttomyransom。’’
``IfthoumeanestyonderSaxonchurls，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``theirransomwilldependuponothertermsthanthine。Mindthineownconcerns，Jew，Iwarnthee，andmeddlenotwiththoseofothers。’’
``Iam，then，’’saidIsaac，``onlytobesetatliberty，togetherwithminewoundedfriend?’’
``ShallItwicerecommendit，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``toasonofIsrael，tomeddlewithhisownconcerns，andleavethoseofothersalone?——Sincethouhastmadethychoice，itremainsbutthatthoupayestdownthyransom，andthatatashortday。’’
``Yethearme，’’saidtheJew——``forthesakeofthatverywealthwhichthouwouldstobtainattheexpenseofthy——’’Herehestoptshort，afraidofirritatingthesavageNorman。ButFront-de-Bufonlylaughed，andhimselffilleduptheblankatwhichtheJewhadhesitated。``Attheexpenseofmyconscience，thouwouldstsay，Isaac；speakitout——Itellthee，Iamreasonable。Icanbearthereproachesofaloser，evenwhenthatloserisaJew。
Thouwertnotsopatient，Isaac，whenthoudidstinvokejusticeagainstJacquesFitzdotterel，forcallingtheeausuriousblood-sucker，whenthyexactionshaddevouredhispatrimony。’’
``IswearbytheTalmud，’’saidtheJew，``thatyourvalourhasbeenmisledinthatmatter。Fitzdottereldrewhisponiarduponmeinmineownchamber，becauseIcravedhimformineownsilver。
ThetermofpaymentwasdueatthePassover。’’
``Icarenotwhathedid，’’saidFront-de-Buf；
``thequestionis，whenshallIhavemineown?——
whenshallIhavetheshekels，Isaac?’’
``LetmydaughterRebeccagoforthtoYork，’’
answeredIsaac，``withyoursafeconduct，nobleknight，andsosoonasmanandhorsecanreturn，thetreasure——’’Herehegroaneddeeply，butadded，afterthepauseofafewseconds，——``Thetreasureshallbetolddownonthisveryfloor。’’
``Thydaughter！’’saidFront-de-Buf，asifsurprised，——``Byheavens，Isaac，IwouldIhadknownofthis。Ideemedthatyonderblack-browedgirlhadbeenthyconcubine，andIgavehertobeahandmaidentoSirBriandeBois-Guilbert，afterthefashionofpatriarchsandheroesofthedaysofold，whosetusinthesemattersawholesomeexample。’’
TheyellwhichIsaacraisedatthisunfeelingcommunicationmadetheveryvaulttoring，andastoundedthetwoSaracenssomuchthattheyletgotheirholdoftheJew。Heavailedhimselfofhisenlargementtothrowhimselfonthepavement，andclaspthekneesofFront-de-Buf。
``Takeallthatyouhaveasked，’’saidhe，``SirKnight——taketentimesmore——reducemetoruinandtobeggary，ifthouwilt，——nay，piercemewiththyponiard，broilmeonthatfurnace，butsparemydaughter，deliverherinsafetyandhonour！——
Asthouartbornofwoman，sparethehonourofahelplessmaiden——SheistheimageofmydeceasedRachel，sheisthelastofsixpledgesofherlove——Willyoudepriveawidowedhusbandofhissoleremainingcomfort?——Willyoureduceafathertowishthathisonlylivingchildwerelaidbesideherdeadmother，inthetombofourfathers?’’
``Iwould，’’saidtheNorman，somewhatrelenting，``thatIhadknownofthisbefore。Ithoughtyourracehadlovednothingsavetheirmoneybags。’’
``Thinknotsovilelyofus，Jewsthoughwebe，’’
saidIsaac，eagertoimprovethemomentofapparentsympathy；``thehuntedfox，thetorturedwildcatlovesitsyoung——thedespisedandpersecutedraceofAbrahamlovetheirchildren！’’
``Beitso，’’saidFront-de-Buf；``Iwillbelieveitinfuture，Isaac，forthyverysake——butitaidsusnotnow，Icannothelpwhathashappened，orwhatistofollow；mywordispassedtomycomradeinarms，norwouldIbreakitfortenJewsandJewessestoboot。Besides，whyshouldstthouthinkevilistocometothegirl，evenifshebecameBois-Guilbert’sbooty?’’
``Therewill，theremust！’’exclaimedIsaac，wringinghishandsinagony；``whendidTemplarsbreatheaughtbutcrueltytomen，anddishonourtowomen！’’
``Dogofaninfidel，’’saidFront-de-Buf，withsparklingeyes，andnotsorry，perhaps，toseizeapretextforworkinghimselfintoapassion，``blasphemenottheHolyOrderoftheTempleofZion，buttakethoughtinsteadtopaymetheransomthouhastpromised，orwoebetidethyJewishthroat！’’
``Robberandvillain！’’saidtheJew，retortingtheinsultsofhisoppressorwithpassion，which，howeverimpotent，henowfounditimpossibletobridle，``Iwillpaytheenothing——notonesilverpennywillIpaythee，unlessmydaughterisdeliveredtomeinsafetyandhonour?’’
``Artthouinthysenses，Israelite?’’saidtheNorman，sternly——``hasthyfleshandbloodacharmagainstheatedironandscaldingoil?’’
``Icarenot！’’saidtheJew，rendereddesperatebypaternalaffection；``dothyworst。Mydaughterismyfleshandblood，dearertomeathousandtimesthanthoselimbswhichthycrueltythreatens。
NosilverwillIgivethee，unlessIweretopouritmoltendownthyavariciousthroat——no，notasilverpennywillIgivethee，Nazarene，wereittosavetheefromthedeepdamnationthywholelifehasmerited！Takemylifeifthouwilt，andsay，theJew，amidsthistortures，knewhowtodisappointtheChristian。’’
``Weshallseethat，’’saidFront-de-Buf；``forbytheblessedrood，whichistheabominationofthyaccursedtribe，thoushaltfeeltheextremitiesoffireandsteel！——Striphim，slaves，andchainhimdownuponthebars。’’
Inspiteofthefeeblestrugglesoftheoldman，theSaracenshadalreadytornfromhimhisuppergarment，andwereproceedingtotallytodisrobehim，whenthesoundofabugle，twicewindedwithoutthecastle，penetratedeventotherecessesofthedungeon，andimmediatelyafterloudvoiceswereheardcallingforSirReginaldFront-de-Buf。
Unwillingtobefoundengagedinhishellishoccupation，thesavageBarongavetheslavesasignaltorestoreIsaac’sgarment，and，quittingthedungeonwithhisattendants，helefttheJewtothankGodforhisowndeliverance，ortolamentoverhisdaughter’scaptivity，andprobablefate，ashispersonalorparentalfeelingsmightprovestrongest。
CHAPTERXXIII
Nay，ifthegentlespiritofmovingwordsCannowaychangeyoutoamilderform，I’llwooyou，likeasoldier，atarms’end，Andloveyou’gainstthenatureoflove，forceyou。
_TwoGentlemenofVerona。_
TheapartmenttowhichtheLadyRowenahadbeenintroducedwasfittedupwithsomerudeattemptsatornamentandmagnificence，andherbeingplacedtheremightbeconsideredasapeculiarmarkofrespectnotofferedtotheotherprisoners。
ButthewifeofFront-de-Buf，forwhomithadbeenoriginallyfurnished，waslongdead，anddecayandneglecthadimpairedthefewornamentswithwhichhertastehadadornedit。Thetapestryhungdownfromthewallsinmanyplaces，andinotherswastarnishedandfadedundertheeffectsofthesun，ortatteredanddecayedbyage。Desolate，however，asitwas，thiswastheapartmentofthecastlewhichhadbeenjudgedmostfittingfortheaccommodationoftheSaxonheiress；andhereshewaslefttomeditateuponherfate，untiltheactorsinthisnefariousdramahadarrangedtheseveralpartswhicheachofthemwastoperform。ThishadbeensettledinacouncilheldbyFront-de-Buf，DeBracy，andtheTemplar，inwhich，afteralongandwarmdebateconcerningtheseveraladvantageswhicheachinsisteduponderivingfromhispeculiarshareinthisaudaciousenterprise，theyhadatlengthdeterminedthefateoftheirunhappyprisoners。
Itwasaboutthehourofnoon，therefore，whenDeBracy，forwhoseadvantagetheexpeditionhadbeenfirstplanned，appearedtoprosecutehisviewsuponthehandandpossessionsoftheLadyRowena。
Theintervalhadnotentirelybeenbestowedinholdingcouncilwithhisconfederates，forDeBracyhadfoundleisuretodecoratehispersonwithallthefopperyofthetimes。Hisgreencassockandvizardwerenowflungaside。Hislongluxurianthairwastrainedtoflowinquainttressesdownhisrichlyfurredcloak。Hisbeardwascloselyshaved，hisdoubletreachedtothemiddleofhisleg，andthegirdlewhichsecuredit，andatthesametimesupportedhisponderoussword，wasembroideredandembossedwithgoldwork。Wehavealreadynoticedtheextravagantfashionoftheshoesatthisperiod，andthepointsofMauricedeBracy’smighthavechallengedtheprizeofextravagancewiththegayest，beingturnedupandtwistedlikethehornsofaram。Suchwasthedressofagallantoftheperiod；and，inthepresentinstance，thateffectwasaidedbythehandsomepersonandgooddemeanourofthewearer，whosemannerspartookalikeofthegraceofacourtier，andthefranknessofasoldier。
HesalutedRowenabydoffinghisvelvetbonnet，garnishedwithagoldenbroach，representingStMichaeltramplingdownthePrinceofEvil。Withthis，hegentlymotionedtheladytoaseat；and，asshestillretainedherstandingposture，theknightunglovedhisrighthand，andmotionedtoconductherthither。ButRowenadeclined，byhergesture，theprofferedcompliment，andreplied，``IfIbeinthepresenceofmyjailor，SirKnight——norwillcircumstancesallowmetothinkotherwise——itbestbecomeshisprisonertoremainstandingtillshelearnsherdoom。’’
``Alas！fairRowena，’’returnedDeBracy，``youareinpresenceofyourcaptive，notyourjailor；
anditisfromyourfaireyesthatDeBracymustreceivethatdoomwhichyoufondlyexpectfromhim。’’
``Iknowyounot，sir，’’saidthelady，drawingherselfupwithalltheprideofoffendedrankandbeauty；``Iknowyounot——andtheinsolentfamiliaritywithwhichyouapplytomethejargonofatroubadour，formsnoapologyfortheviolenceofarobber。’’
``Tothyself，fairmaid，’’answeredDeBracy，inhisformertone-`tothineowncharmsbeascribedwhate’erIhavedonewhichpassedtherespectduetoher，whomIhavechosenqueenofmyheart，andloadstarofmyeyes。’’
``Irepeattoyou，SirKnight，thatIknowyounot，andthatnomanwearingchainandspursoughtthustointrudehimselfuponthepresenceofanunprotectedlady。’’
``ThatIamunknowntoyou，’’saidDeBracy，``isindeedmymisfortune；yetletmehopethatDeBracy’snamehasnotbeenalwaysunspoken，whenminstrelsorheraldshavepraiseddeedsofchivalry，whetherinthelistsorinthebattle-field。’’
``Toheraldsandtominstrels，then，leavethypraise，SirKnight，’’repliedRowena，``moresuitingfortheirmouthsthanforthineown；andtellmewhichofthemshallrecordinsong，orinbookoftourney，thememorableconquestofthisnight，aconquestobtainedoveranoldman，followedbyafewtimidhinds；anditsbooty，anunfortunatemaiden，transportedagainstherwilltothecastleofarobber?’’