The park behind the palace was of great extent. Gardens, pieces of water, slopes planted with vines, thick shrubberies and tracts of woodland, were there mingled in an apparently wild disorder which was in reality the result of careful arrangement and consideration. The whole was surrounded by a lofty wall, in which were three or four small doors. A thick forest came close up to the outside of the wall, and was intersected by several roads.
Along one of these roads drove an elegant travelling carriage, drawn by two extremely swift and powerful horses. A bearded man, of Jewish aspect, muffled in a huge coachman's coat, sat upon the box. The shutters of the vehicle were drawn up, so that it could not be seen into. It stopped at the edge of the forest. The door opened, and a little man, also of Israelitish appearance, but very richly dressed, got out. He left the door open.
"Turn round, Abraham!" said he in Jewish jargon to the driver.
The coachman obeyed, so that the horses' heads were in the direction whence they came.
"Stop!"
The carriage stood still, and the little man walked round it, examining it minutely on all sides, as if to make sure that it was sound and complete in every part. With equal attention he inspected the harness and limbs of the vigorous horses.
"Keep a sharp watch, Abraham, for my return."
"Don't be afraid, Moses."
"The very minute I get in, drive off at full speed. But no sooner—d'ye hear?—no sooner."
"Why should I sooner?" retorted the coachman sharply, in the same dialect.