Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/72

54 for help. JehielJechiel [sic] heard only the knocking, for the wind was blowing hard. Once again he seized the hammer and knocked the nail on its head, when it sprang out of the floor. This gave the Rabbi a tremendous shock.

"This can only happen," cried he in terror, "if the King or an angel were at my door."

At the same moment when the nail sprang out of the floor the ground outside the door began to rise again. Without a moment's delay Jechiel opened the street-door, and there sure enough stood the King of France with his two attendants. The King did not say a word. Jechiel fell on his face to the earth, but the King commanded him to rise up as snow was on the ground. The Rabbi obeyed and said,—

"I pray your gracious Majesty forgive me. I knew not that you were at my door. I crave your Majesty's pardon."

The King smiled and gave him his hand. The King was more than surprised, in fact he was rather terrified, as he did not know what next to expect. Such a strange experience as he had just gone through was more than enough for one evening. Here indeed was more to be wondered at than at any magic lamp.

"Well, good Rabbi," at last the King managed to say,—

"Do you not call this witchcraft and magic? Here