“Fool,” answered Issachar, “did I ask you to do murder?  I do not fight with such weapons; let the woman live or die as it is decreed.  Nay, enter my chamber, for I would speak with you, who are a cunning man versed in the craft of courts.  Listen now:  I love this prince Aziel, for I have reared him from his childhood, and he has been a son to me who have none.  More, I am sent hither to this hateful land to watch him and hold him from harm, and for all that chances to him I must account.  And now, what has chanced?  This woman, Elissa, by her witcheries——­”

“Softly, Issachar; what witcheries does she need beyond those lips and form and eyes?”

“By her witcheries, I tell you, has ensnared him so that now he swears that he will wed her.”

“What of it, Issachar?  He might travel far to find a lovelier woman.”

“What of it, do you ask, remembering who he is?  What of it, when you know his faith, and that this fair idolater will sap it, and cause him to cast away his soul?  What of it, when with your own ears you heard him swear to love her through all the deeps of life and death?  Man, are you mad?”

“No, but some might say that you are, holy father, who forget that I am also of this religion which you revile.  But for good or ill, so the matter stands; and now what is it that you wish of me?”

“I wish that you should make it impossible that the prince Aziel should take this woman to wife.  Not by murder, indeed, for ’thou shalt not kill,’ saith the law, but by bringing it about that she should marry the king Ithobal, or if that fail, in any other fashion which seems good to you.”

“‘Thou shalt not kill,’ saith your law; tell me then, Issachar, does it say also that thou shalt hand over a woman to a fate that she chances to hold to be worse than death?  Doubtless it is foolish of her, and we should not heed such woman’s folly.  Yet this one has a certain strength of will, and I question if all the elders of the city will bring her living to the arms of Ithobal.”

“It is nought to me, Metem, if she weds Ithobal, or weds him not, save that I do not love this heathen man, and surely her temper and her witcheries would bring ruin on him.  What I would have you do is to prevent her from marrying Aziel; the way I leave to you.”

“And what should I be paid for this service, holy Issachar?”

The Jew thought and answered, “A hundred golden shekels.”

“Two hundred gold shekels,” replied Metem reflectively, “nay, I am sure you said two hundred, Issachar.  At least, I do not work for less, and it is a small sum enough, seeing that to earn it I must take upon myself the guilt of severing two loving hearts.  But I know well that you are right, and that this would be an evil marriage for the prince Aziel, and also for the lady Elissa, who then day by day and year by year must bear the scourge of your reproaches, Issachar.  Therefore I will do my best, not for the money indeed, but because I see herein a righteous duty.  And now here is parchment, give me the lamp that I may prepare the bond.”