‘David, you have a ring, an emerald cut with curious characters, Hebrew, I believe.’
‘‘Tis here.’
‘A fine stone, and this inscription means——’
‘A simple legend, “Parted, but one;” the kind memorial of a brother’s love.’
‘Your brother?’
‘I never had a brother.’
‘I have a silly fancy for this ring: you hesitate. Search my palace, and choose the treasure you deem its match.’
‘Noble sir, the gem is little worth; but were it such might deck a Caliph’s brow, ‘twere a poor recompense for all thy goodness. This ring is a trust rather than a possession, and strange to say, although I cannot offer it to thee who mayst command, as thou hast saved, the life of its unhappy wearer, some stranger may cross my path to-morrow, and almost claim it as his own.’
‘And that stranger is——’
‘The brother of the donor.’
‘The brother of Jabaster?’
‘Jabaster!’
‘Even so. I am that parted brother.’
‘Great is the God of Israel! Take the ring. But what is this? the brother of Jabaster a turbaned chieftain! a Moslem! Say, but say, that thou hast not assumed their base belief; say, but say, that thou hast not become a traitor to our covenant, and I will bless the fortunes of this hour.’
‘I am false to no God. Calm thyself, sweet youth. These are higher questions than thy faint strength can master now. Another time we’ll talk of this, my boy; at present of my brother and thyself. He lives and prospers?’
‘He lives in faith; the
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