" We can bear witness," said Gilbert; " for when we had cleared away the ruin, and by Saint Dunstan's help lighted upon the dungeon stair, we found the runlet of sack half empty, the Jew half dead, and the Friarjnore than half exhaust¬ed, as he calls it"
" Ye be knaves I ye lie!" retorted the offended Friar; " it was you and your gormandizing com¬panions that drank up the sack, and called it your morning draught—I am a pagan, an I kept it not for the Captain's own throat. But what recks it ? The Jew is converted, and understands all I have told him, very nearly, if not altogether, as well s myself."
" Jew," said the Captain, " is this true ? hast thou renounced thine unbelief ?"
" May I so find mercy in your eyes," saidd the Jew, u as I know not one word which the reverend prelate spake to me all this fearful night. Alas! I was so distraught with agony, and fear, and grief, that had our holy father Abraham come to preach to me, he had found but a deaf listener."
" Thou liest, Jew, and thou knowest thou dost," said the Friar; " I will remind thee but of one word of our conference—thou didst pro- mise to give all thy substance to our holy OF* der."
" So help me the promise, fair sirs," said Isaac, more alarmed than even before, " as no such sounds ever crossed my lips! Alas! I Supra shoes am on aged beggar'd man—I fear me a childless—have ruth on me, and let me go !"
" Nay," said the Friar, " if thou dost retract vows made in favour of holy Church, thou must do penance."
Accordingly he raised his halbert, and would have laid the staff of it lustily on the Jew's should¬ers, had not the Black Knight stopped the blow, and thereby transferred the Holy Clerk's resentment to himself.