Page:Auerbach-Spinozanovel.djvu/289

Rh 'One witness is not evidence; you must go with me before the Sanhedrim; we will accuse him; he must be laid under the great ban; I will yet set my foot on his neck.' Ephraim said he would not witness against you—he had heard nothing. 'So you will not!' cried Chisdai, and seized him by the arm; 'then you must swear you heard nothing, and if you do you may go to the devil with him.' I heard it all, for they did not notice me. But, dear brother, you bring the most fearful misfortunes on us. I would rather die now, on my wedding day, than live through this."

Spinoza pacified his sister, but he could not pacify himself.

"How great you thought yourself yesterday," he said to himself, "when you told Olympia that our conceptions of highest things should remain unexpressed in the soul. Now you have proved yourself." The whole day he remained sunk in grief.

Chisdai's efforts had not the wished-for result. Every one had regard for Benjamin Spinoza and his influential connections; and there were only words not deeds adduced against Baruch. Chisdai was obliged to defer his undertaking to a more favorable opportunity; he could easily wait that length of time, for soon after Miriam's wedding Baruch's father again lay dangerously ill. No one would inform the sick man of the rumor that attached to his son.