The Buccaneer - A Tale

"Sir Willmott Burrell is not well," replied Robin; "but I will take your

name, if it please ye, and return speedily with his commands."

"Manasseh Ben Israel demands instant parley with the Master of Burrell."

Robin did not bow, because, as a humble Cavalier and a proud Christian,

he held it a point of duty to hate and avoid the despised race to which

the stranger belonged; but he made a respectful answer, for the riches

of the Rabbi and the favour of Cromwell were not to be contemned. He

then proceeded along the hall, and up some narrow stairs, called

private, as they led only to the library, and was crossing the

apartment for the purpose of announcing Ben Israel, when the Jew, who

had closely and unobservedly followed his footsteps with so light a

tread as even to escape Robin's ears, passed him suddenly, and as

suddenly Burrell of Burrell sprang from his seat, as if struck by a

musket-ball. The old man stood before him, his features working, his

lips moving, but no articulate sound coming forth--his entire frame

agitated, almost convulsed; while Burrell, exerting every power of his

mind to the contest, was the first to move. He stepped towards the Jew,

extending his hand in token of amity. Ben Israel touched it not, but

raised his arm, pointing his skinny and shrivelled finger towards

Burrell, until it came on a level with his countenance; then, by a

desperate exertion, the cracked, strained voice forced a passage through

his parched throat, and he exclaimed,-"My child!--my only one!--Zillah!--my beloved, my only, only child! Do

ye remember your own mother, who travailed for ye, brought ye forth in

pain, and carried ye, and nourished ye in her bosom? Do ye ever hope to

have a child, who will tend, and serve, and watch over you, as mine once

did over me? If so, tell, tell me where mine is!--I will bless you for

the knowledge! I, an old man, whose beard is white, implore you, who

have ruined her, to tell me where she is!"

The Jew flung his cap on the floor, and prostrated himself before

Burrell, who immediately raised him, and in his most persuasive tone

sought to soothe and assure the Rabbi he had been in every respect

misled and misinformed.

"Sit, good Ben Israel, and comfort yourself; you have, I swear to you,

been grossly imposed upon by some malignants whom I must---- Robin! hunt

out the knaves, and bring some wine--the best in the old bin, for my

good friend. How could you, sir, suppose me capable of betraying the

confidence you reposed when you introduced me to the abode in which your

fair daughter dwelt? But, granting I had the ascendency over her, which

from your speech you seem to infer, how----"