“When these are weighed, my lord, thou wilt find that they are of considerable value.”
Naaman exchanged a look with Isaac and assumed an air of sternness. “And when the truth is known thou wilt be found to have stolen them.”
On the faces of the two young men was blank despair. “Say not so, my lord. It is the product of five years and more of toil for us in the fields and vineyards of Abner of Hannathon. Robbed of his flocks and herds and his stores of oil and wine by the same hand which made Miriam’s parents desolate”—he paused and cast a contemptuous glance at Isaac, who winced as if he had received a blow—“naught had he left but his land, so he agreed with us for wages, and the God of our fathers, who heard the sighs of the maid in captivity, also prospered Abner and us.”
Naaman surveyed the jewelry appraisingly. “Five years’ wages for two would scarcely equal their value. Thou hast obtained them by fraud. Peradventure even now he for whom thou wert hirelings mourneth his loss.”
Genuinely distressed, tears came to the eyes of Eli. “Nay,” he said, eagerly, “my lord misjudgeth his servants. Privation hath been sister unto Toil and both have been sweet unto us for the hope wherewith we were comforted. My lord can see that these be the hands of workers—” he stretched open palms toward Naaman and commanded Nathan to do likewise. “These are not the hands of those who live delicately on the earnings of others.”
Naaman surveyed their hardened and calloused hands, to which his attention had been directed, but he saw yet more: their emaciated appearance, their coarse clothing, above all, their earnestness, but he seemed to find no words.
Slowly Eli drew from his bosom another and yet smaller piece of sheepskin and unwrapping it, passed it without speaking to Naaman. The latter looked long and with surprise, examining it diligently and commenting briefly.
“It is a pearl of great price. It hath never belonged to thee.”
“Never,” assented the spokesman. “It is a gift from Judith, kinswoman to Miriam and wife of Abner, who considereth herself to blame for Miriam’s capture. Loath was I to take it, but she besought me with tears and we reflected that what might mean much to the maid was but a little thing to Abner, so we hearkened to his wife.”
The conversation was interrupted momentarily when Lemuel, bowing low and with many apologies, crossed the courtyard hurriedly and whispered a message in Naaman’s ear. With a hasty glance at the sun the great captain turned to Eli.