“I have remembered that: that is why I have saved you from hanging like a dog at the hands of these Goyim vermin: but, Isaac, you must die—”
“God of—!”
“You dare raise your voice! Blood for blood—”
“Mercy!—I did not mean to kill—!”
“Blood for blood, you dog! Raise it, and I fell you! Raise it, and the noose sinks into your fat swine's-throat! Can't you understand?—you have been tracked by the avengers of blood! and you may swing lingeringly, with a crowd of Christian boys and girls mocking round you, or you may shoot yourself in one painless flash. Which shall it be?”
Isaac, again dropping a-heap, covered his face, without answer.
“Well”, said Frankl, walking away, “I can't wait all day. The detectives are at this moment downstairs—”
Now the Arab leapt up, and, in a movement of great dignity, with an out-rush of both arms, rent his caftan from the top to its muslin girdle.
“I will shoot myself”, he said quietly.
Frankl took snuff.