"The writing must be taken from him and delivered into my hands."
"Nassi! the writing is no longer in his hands."
"And where is it?" said the Rabbi, in a louder voice, without turning round.
"Rabbi! I should not have dared to appear before you, had I not known what became of it. I followed him—my whole soul entered into my eyes and ears. I saw how he gave the writing to the Karaitish girl to hide it; I heard how he called it his treasure, and his passport to go into the world with, and which would open for him the hearts of the people."
Todros shuddered convulsively.
"It is true," he whispered angrily. "That writing will be to him a shield and weapon, on which our sharpest arrows will have no effect. Moshe!" he said, in a more determined voice, "the writing must be taken from the Karaitish girl."
The melamed crawled to his master's knees, and raising his face to him said, in a low voice:
"Rabbi! the girl said she would sooner lay down her life than part with the writing."
Todros was silent for a moment, and then repeated:
"The writing must be taken from her."