he had only given it rest he might have cropped it as a Christian crops his beard.  But even that little he did not know, for God had deprived him of all understanding, and had multiplied pestilence, and famine, and despair upon the people.  Therefore his people turned against us Jews, who are all people’s dogs.  Why not?  Lastly the Barons and the people rose together against the King because of his cruelties.  Nay—­nay—­the Barons did not love the people, but they saw that if the King cut up and destroyed the common people, he would presently destroy the Barons.  They joined then, as cats and pigs will join to slay a snake.  I kept the accounts, and I watched all these things, for I remembered the Prophecy.

’A great gathering of Barons (to most of whom we had lent money) came to Bury, and there, after much talk and a thousand runnings-about, they made a roll of the New Laws that they would force on the King.  If he swore to keep those Laws, they would allow him a little money.  That was the King’s God—­Money—­to waste.  They showed us the roll of the New Laws.  Why not?  We had lent them money.  We knew all their counsels—­we Jews shivering behind our doors in Bury.’  He threw out his hands suddenly.  ’We did not seek to be paid all in money.  We sought Power—­Power—­Power!  That is our God in our captivity.  Power to use!

’I said to Elias:  “These New Laws are good.  Lend no more money to the King:  so long as he has money he will lie and slay the people.”

’"Nay,” said Elias.  “I know this people.  They are madly cruel.  Better one King than a thousand butchers.  I have lent a little money to the Barons, or they would torture us, but my most I will lend to the King.  He hath promised me a place near him at Court, where my wife and I shall be safe.”

’"But if the King be made to keep these New Laws,” I said, “the land will have peace, and our trade will grow.  If we lend he will fight again.”

’"Who made thee a Lawgiver in England?” said Elias.  “I know this people.  Let the dogs tear one another!  I will lend the King ten thousand pieces of gold, and he can fight the Barons at his pleasure.”

’"There are not two thousand pieces of gold in all England this summer,” I said, for I kept the accounts, and I knew how the earth’s gold moved—­that wonderful underground river.  Elias barred home the windows, and, his hands about his mouth, he told me how, when he was trading with small wares in a French ship, he had come to the Castle of Pevensey.’

‘Oh!’ said Dan.  ‘Pevensey again!’ and looked at Una, who nodded and skipped.

’There, after they had scattered his pack up and down the Great Hall, some young knights carried him to an upper room, and dropped him into a well in a wall, that rose and fell with the tide.  They called him Joseph, and threw torches at his wet head.  Why not?’

‘Why, of course!’ cried Dan.  ‘Didn’t you know it was——­’ Puck held up his hand to stop him, and Kadmiel, who never noticed, went on.