"Go back to bed," he says to the old woman; "I will go myself and see if anything is wrong."
At the same moment the dog again barks furiously, and then all at once begins to whine and utter short barks of joy. They hear the huge creature jumping about and scratching at the outer door. He has evidently recognized the person who has come up to the house, and is trying to get to him.
The old man turns as pale as death. "Who can it be?" he murmurs. Then he proceeds with tottering steps toward the entrance-hall. The housekeeper prepares to follow him, but he exclaims "Go away" so passionately, that she draws back. He takes no candle with him, for it is the Sabbath; so he feels his way to the house-door.
The old woman stands and listens. She hears the dog spring forward to meet his master, and then run with joyous whines toward the outer door.
Then she hears Moses ask, "Who is there?"
All is still. The dog alone utters a short bark.
Moses repeats his question.
An answer comes from without. The housekeeper can not hear what it is. It sounds to her like a cry of pain.
But the old man must have understood. He opens the heavy outer door, steps out, and shuts it behind him. The dog has apparently slipped out at the same time as his master, for the housekeeper can hear the stifled sound of his bark.
Then Moses's voice becomes audible; he speaks very loudly and passionately. What he says sounds at first like scolding, and then like a solemn curse or conjuration. But the old woman can not hear the words.... No mortal ear hears the words that Moses Freudenthal addresses to the person who had knocked at his door that dismal night.