"Why do you remain here? What are you waiting for? Go away! Go away! Do not think of the condemned. His hours are numbered."
"May your lordship"--
"Go away before I do something to you!" cried he. At the same time he approached the Jew, and whispered in his ear in German:--
"Go away. I will come to you soon."
In the German pronunciation of the colonel, as well as in his features, there was a barely perceptible trace of Jewish origin. But why suppose this Russian officer to be a child of Israel? Jankiel refused to admit the thought. Nevertheless, he could not forget it, and was thinking of it when he entered the room. He said nothing to Jacob, who went to his chamber, a prey to the deepest anxiety.
About a half-hour later a step was heard on the stairs. The Muscovite entered, his face as white as snow. He glanced eagerly around the room, the Jewish character of which seemed to fascinate him; books, inscriptions, portraits of rabbins, all attracted his attention. He held out his hand to Jankiel, and said to him:--
"Salem alekem."
"Alekem salem," replied the old man, amazed.
No more explanation was needed. Without doubt the colonel was a Jew. His father, or he himself, in order to enter the service of the government, had adopted the orthodox Greek faith. Nevertheless, the fire of the belief of his ancestors and of his repudiated race burned beneath the ashes.
The colonel seated himself. Jankiel observed him thoughtfully.