"Excuse me, I pray you, for a few moments, good Rabbi," observed the
merchant, who was now occupied in entering the number, size, and quality
of the pearls in a large book.
"I cannot wait, friend," was the Jew's quick reply, "for I am going a
journey, and the night draws on darkly."
"Whither, sir, I pray you?"
"Even to Hampton House," replied Ben Israel, "to commune with his
Highness, whom the God of Abraham protect!--and I am sorely perplexed,
for my own serving-man is ill, and I know not whom to take, seeing I am
feeble and require care, unless you can lend me the man Townsend: Samuel
assures me he is a person of trust."
"Townsend is, unhappily, gone on secret business to a long distance, set
off not an hour since: would that I had known it before!"
"There is no lack of servants," continued the Rabbi, "but there is great
lack of faithfulness. I know not what to do, for I must see his Highness
to-night."
"If it so please you," said little Robin, eagerly stepping forward, "I
will go with you; I am sure this gentleman can answer for my fidelity,
and I will answer for my own fitness."
The Rabbi and the merchant looked at each other, and then the latter
observed,-"I can well answer for this young man's trust-worthiness, seeing he has
been engaged to bring me goods such as these, from secret sources, the
nature of which you understand, excellent Ben Israel. But what know you
of the service befitting a gentleman's servant?"
"I have been in that capacity, too," replied little Robin Hays.
"With whom?" inquired Manasseh.
"With one I care not much to name, sirs, for he does me no credit," was
Robin's answer; "with Sir Willmott Burrell."
The old man shuddered, and said in an agitated voice--"Then, indeed, you
will not do for me on this occasion."
"Under favour," persisted Robin, "I know not the occasion, and therefore
cannot judge, if I may speak so boldly; but I have seen you before, sir,
and can only say, that knowing all his manoeuvres well, I am just the
person to be trusted by his enemy."
"Young man," said the Jew, severely, "I am no man's enemy; I leave such
enmity as you speak of to my Christian brethren. I ask only justice from
my fellow mortals, and mercy from my God."