A Thousand Silver Pounds

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 29 (Supplement)

A Thousand Silver Pounds

Isaac had been sitting on the floor of the dungeon without altering his position for nearly three hours when the door opened, and Reginald Front-de-Boeuf entered, followed by the two Saracen slaves of the Templar. Front-de-Boeuf was a tall and strong man, but of a fierce and malignant character. Having carefully locked the door, Front-de-Boeuf slowly advanced towards the Jew. “Most accursed dog of an accursed race,” he said, “do you see these scales? In these very scales you shall weigh me out a thousand silver pounds.” “Holy Abraham!” returned the Jew. “Who ever heard of such a sum as a thousand silver pounds? What human sight was ever blessed with the vision of such a mass of treasure?”

“I am reasonable,” answered Front-de-Boeuf, “and if silver be scant, I refuse no gold.” “Have mercy on me, noble knight!” exclaimed Isaac. “I am old, and poor, and helpless. I sw’ear to you—” “Do not perjure yourself,” said the Norman, “and let not your obstinacy seal your doom, until you have seen and well considered the fate that awaits you.” He then ordered the Saracens to put fire to the charcoal, which they had brought in their baskets, and dispose it under a large rusty grate in one corner of the dungeon. Isaac watched their preparations with the utmost terror.