Sarah drew back with drooping eyes.
"I will not take the goblet," answered she; "my lord forbade me to take gifts from any one."
Dagon was astonished, and looked with widely opened eyes at her.
"Then it must be that Thou knowest not, Sarah, the value of this goblet. But I give it to thy father, who is my brother."
"I cannot take it," whispered Sarah.
"Oh!" cried Dagon. "Then thou, Sarah, wilt pay me for this goblet in another way, without speaking to thy lord. But a woman as beautiful as Thou must have gold and jewels, and should have her own banker to bring her money when she pleases, not alone when her lord likes."
"I cannot!" whispered Sarah, without concealing her repulsion for the banker.
The Phoenician changed his tone in the twinkle of an eye, and said laughing,
"Very good, Sarah! I only wished to convince myself that Thou art faithful to our lord. I see that Thou art faithful, though foolish, as people say."
"What?" burst out Sarah, rushing at Dagon with clinched fist.