The melamed remained, silent and thoughtful for a long time.
"Rabbi!" he said in a very low whisper, "and if anything happens to the girl?"
Todros did, not answer at once. At last he said:
"Blessed is the hand that removes garbage from the house of Israel!"
The melamed seemed to drink in the words eagerly and ponder over their meaning. Then he smiled.
"Rabbi!" he said, "I have understood your wish—depend upon your servant; he will find men whose hands are strong and whose hearts are steel. Rabbi!" he added, entreatingly, "let a gentle ray from your eyes fall upon your servant; let him see your wrath is softened towards him. My soul without your love and favour is like a well without water or a dark prison where no love enters."
Todros replied:
"No gentle ray will come from my eye, nor will my wrath be softened till the writing has been torn out of the accursed hands."
Moshe groaned:
"Rabbi, the writing shall be in your hands tomorrow."