“I swear, before Heaven!” said the Rabbi, “that I have ever diligently kept the law, and walked stedfastly according to the traditions of our fathers, from the day of my youth upward.  I have wronged no man in word or deed, and I have daily worshipped the Lord; minutely performing all the ceremonies thereto needful.”

“Nay,” said the lady, “all this thou mightest have done, and more, and yet be in the power of the Demons.  But time passes, for I hear the foot of my husband mounting the stair.  There is one chance of thine escape.”

“What is that?  O lady of beauty?” said the agonized Rabbi.

“Eat not, drink not, nor take fee or reward while here; and as long as thou canst do thus, the Mazikin have no power over thee, dead or alive.  Have courage, and persevere.”

As she ceased from speaking, her husband entered the room, followed by the nurse, who bore all things requisite for the ministration of the Rabbi.  With a heavy heart he performed his duty, and the child was numbered among the faithful.  But when, as usual, at the conclusion of the ceremony, the wine was handed round to be tasted by the child, the mother, and the Rabbi, he refused it when it came to him, saying:—­

“Spare me, my lord, for I have made a vow that I fast this day; and I will not eat, neither will I drink.”

“Be it as thou pleasest,” said the Demon, “I will not that thou shouldst break thy vow;” and he laughed aloud.

So the poor Rabbi was taken into a chamber, looking into a garden, where he passed the remainder of the night and the day weeping, and praying to the Lord that he would deliver him from the city of Demons.  But when the twelfth hour came, and the sun was set, the Prince of the Mazikin came again unto him, and said:—­

“Eat now, I pray thee, for the day of thy vow is past;” and he set meat before him.

“Pardon again thy servant, my lord,” said Jochonan, “in this thing.  I have another vow for this day also.  I pray thee be not angry with thy servant.”

“I am not angry,” said the Demon, “be it as thou pleasest; I respect thy vow;” and he laughed louder than before.

So the Rabbi sat another day in his chamber by the garden, weeping and praying.  And when the sun had gone behind the hills, the Prince of the Mazikin again stood before him, and said:—­

“Eat now, for thou must be an hungered.  It was a sore vow of thine;” and he offered him daintier meats.

And Jochonan felt a strong desire to eat, but he prayed inwardly to the Lord, and the temptation passed, and he answered:—­

“Excuse thy servant yet a third time, my lord, that I eat not.  I have renewed my vow.”

“Be it so, then,” said the other; “arise, and follow me.”

The Demon took a torch in his hand, and led the Rabbi through winding passages of his palace, to the door of a lofty chamber, which he opened with a key that he took from a niche in the wall.  On entering the room, Jochonan saw that it was of solid silver—­floor, ceiling, walls, even to the threshold and the door-posts.  And the curiously carved roof, and borders of the ceiling, shone, in the torch-light, as if they were the fanciful work of frost.  In the midst were heaps of silver money, piled up in immense urns of the same metal, even over the brim.