But now there was a little stir outside, and a voice shouted—
“What ho!—who cried for help?”
“I.”
“Who art thou, and where?”
“I have fallen into the cess-pool; I pray thee, friend, whoever thou art, to bring or send me something on which I can rest till sunset, and then help me forth.”
“The saints be blessed! a jolly place to fall into. But why, in the name of all the Calendar, dost thou want to wait till sunset?”
“Because I am a Jew, and until then is the holy Sabbath.”
A peal of laughter answered the explanation.
“Hope thou mayest enjoy it! Well, if ever I heard such nonsense! Is it worth while pulling a Jew out?—what sayest thou, Anselm?”
“He is a man, poor soul!” returned a second voice. “Nay, let us not leave him to such a death as that.”