Page:Meir Ezofovitch a novel, from the Polish of Eliza Orzeszko.djvu/325

Rh secured the precious relic under his ragged garments and then kissed the rabbi’s hand with fervent gratitude.

"Rabbi," he said, "I have nothing to pay you with."

Todros craned his yellow neck towards him.

"You have come from a far country, indeed, if you do not know that Isaac Todros does not take any payment. If I do good to my brethren, I ask only for one reward, that the Almighty may increase by one drop, the wisdom I possess already, but of which I can never have enough."

The old man looked with admiring eyes at the sage, who, so full of wisdom, yet wished for more.

"Rabbi!" he sighed, "allow me to kiss your benevolent hand."

"Kiss it,” said the master gently, and when the old man bent his head covered with white hair the rabbi put his arm round him and kissed him on the forehead.

"Rabbi!" exclaimed the old man with a burst of happiness in his voice, "you are good,—you are our father,—our master and brother."

"Blessings upon you," replied Todros, "for having preserved your faith unto your old age and the love for our fatherland, which makes you prize a handful of its soil more than gold and silver."

Both their eyes were full of tears. It was the first time they had ever met and yet their hearts were full of brotherly love and mutual sympathy.

Reb Mosze, who sat in his usual corner, waiting for the end of the interview, had also tears in his eyes. When Isaac Todros was alone he still waited a little and then said in a low voice,—