“If my daughter loves,” continued Daniels, seeing at last that his theme was too abstruse for his single auditor, “as you conjectured, dear madame, it is surely some honorable person worthy of that love; if she has not informed me it is because there is some obstacle, such as the man’s not loving her or being bound to another woman.  In any case, the obstacle must be insurmountable, or she would not go away with me into strange countries through great fatigue on a chimerical search.”

Cantagnac had risen and, very courteously for his assumed character, had come round the table without going near his host and the Jewess, and entered into the other dialogue.

“Did you say you were going far, monsieur?” he inquired.

Daniels nodded and opened his arms significantly to their utmost extent.

“Leaving Europe with a scientific design?  Ah! may one hear?”

“Perhaps it would not much interest you?” returned the old man, who seemed to feel a revival of a prejudice against the visitor upon his coming nearer.

“The atmosphere of this house is so learned,” replied, the smiling man unabashed by the sudden coolness, “and, besides, more things interest me than people believe, eh, madame?” directly appealing to the hostess, who had to nod.

“You see I have a great deal of spare time since I retired from business and I am eager to increase my store, ha, ha!”

“Well, the idea which has tormented more than one of my race, has seized me,” returned M. Daniels, “I wish to fill up gaps in our traditional story and link our present and our future with our past.  The question is of the Lost Tribes of Israel.  I believe after some research, that I know the truth on the subject, and, more that I may be chosen to reconquer our country.  The ideal one is not sufficient for us, and I am going to locate the real one and register the act of claiming it.  Every man has his craze or his ideal, and mine may lead me from China to Great Salt Lake, or to the Sahara.”

“What a pity,” interjected Cantagnac merrily, “that the Wandering Jew did not have your idea.  It would have helped him work out his sentence to walk around the globe!”

“He had no money to lend to monarchs sure to vanquish or to peoples astounded by having been overcome.  But his five pence have fructified by dint of much patience, privation and economy.  The Wandering Jew has realized the legend and ceases to tramp.  He has reached the goal.  What do you think about my pleasure tour?” he suddenly inquired of Clemenceau, whose eye he caught.  “Child of Europe, happy son of Japhet.  I am going to see old Shem and Ham.  Have you a keepsake to send them or a promise to make?”

“Tell them,” said the host, coming over to join the group, while Rebecca, during the continued resignation of Madame Clemenceau, superintended the servant’s removal of the luncheon service, “tell them that we are all hard at work here and that more than ever there’s a chance of our becoming one family.”