Nina Balatka

  CHAPTER VII

  Madame Zamenoy and her son no doubt understood each other's purposes,and there was another person in the house who understood them--LottaLuxa, namely; but Karil Zamenoy had been kept somewhat in the dark.Touching that piece of parchment as to which so much anxiety had beenexpressed, he only knew that he had, at his wife's instigation, givenit into her hand in order that she might use it in some way for puttingan end to the foul betrothal between Nina and the Jew. The elderZamenoy no doubt understood that Anton Trendellsohn was to be boughtoff by the document; and he was not unwilling to buy him off socheaply, knowing as he did that the houses were in truth the Jew'sproperty; but Madame Zamenoy's scheme was deeper than this. She didnot believe that the Jew was to be bought off at so cheap a price; butshe did believe that it might be possible to create such a feeling inhis mind as would make him abandon Nina out of the workings of his ownheart. Ziska and his mother were equally anxious to save Nina from theJew, but not exactly with the same motives. He had received a promise,both from his father and mother, before anything was known of the Jew'slove, that Nina should be received as a daughter-in-law, if she wouldaccept his suit; and this promise was still in force. That the girlwhom he loved should love a Jew distressed and disgusted Ziska; but itdid not deter him from his old purpose. It was shocking, very shocking,that Nina should so disgrace herself; but she was not on that accountless pretty or less charming in her cousin's eyes. Madame Zamenoy,could she have had her own will, would have rescued Nina from the Jew--firstly, because Nina was known all over Prague to be her niece--and,secondly, for the good of Christianity generally; but the girl herself,when rescued, she would willingly have left to starve in the poverty ofthe old house in the Kleinseite, as a punishment for her sin in havinglistened to a Jew.

  "I would have nothing more to say to her," said the mother to her son.

  "Nor I either," said Lotta, who was present. "She has demeaned herselffar too much to be a fit wife for Ziska."

  "Hold your tongue, Lotta; what business have you to speak about such amatter?" said the young man.

  "All the same, Ziska, if I were you, I would give her up," said themother.

  "If you were me, mother, you would not give her up. If every man is togive up the girl he likes because somebody else interferes with him,how is anybody to get married at all? It's the way with them all."

  "But a Jew, Ziska!"

  "So much the more reason for taking her away from him." Then Ziska wentforth on a certain errand, the expediency of which he had discussedwith his mother.

  "I never thought he'd be so firm about it, ma'am," said Lotta to hermistress.

  "If we could get Trendellsohn to turn her off, he would not think muchof her afterwards," said the mother. "He wouldn't care to take theJew's leavings."

  "But he seems to be so obstinate," said Lotta. "Indeed I did not thinkthere was so much obstinacy in him."

  "Of course he is obstinate while he thinks the other man is to haveher," said the mistress; "but all that will be changed when the girl isalone in the world."

  It was a Saturday morning, and Ziska had gone out with a certain fixedobject. Much had been said between him and his mother since AntonTrendellsohn's visit to the office, and it had been decided that heshould now go and see the Jew in his own home. He should see him andspeak him fair, and make him understand if possible that the wholequestion of the property should be settled as he wished it--if he wouldonly give up his insane purpose of marrying a Christian girl. Ziskawould endeavour also to fill the Jew's mind with suspicion againstNina. The former scheme was Ziska's own; the second was that in whichZiska's mother put her chief trust. "If once he can be made to thinkthat the girl is deceiving him, he will quarrel with her utterly,"Madame Zamenoy had said.

  On Saturday there is but little business done in Prague, becauseSaturday is the Sabbath of the Jews. The shops are of course open inthe main streets of the town, but banks and counting-houses are closed,because the Jews will not do business on that day--so great is thepreponderance of the wealth of Prague in the hands of that people! Itsuited Ziska, therefore, to make his visit on a Saturday, both becausehe had but little himself to do on that day, and because he would bealmost sure to find Trendellsohn at home. As he made his way across thebottom of the Kalowrat-strasse and through the centre of the city tothe narrow ways of the Jews' quarter, his heart somewhat misgave him asto the result of his visit. He knew very well that a Christian was safeamong the Jews from any personal ill-usage; but he knew also that sucha one as he would be known personally to many of them as a Christianrival, and probably as a Christian enemy in the same city, and hethought that they would look at him askance. Living in Prague all hislife, he had hardly been above once or twice in the narrow streetswhich he was now threading. Strangers who come to Prague visit theJews' quarter as a matter of course, and to such strangers the Jews ofPrague are invariably courteous. But the Christians of the city seldomwalk through the heart of the Jews' locality, or hang about the Jews'synagogue, or are seen among their houses unless they have specialbusiness. The Jews' quarter, though it is a banishment to the Jews fromthe fairer portions of the city, is also a separate and somewhat sacredcastle in which they may live after their old fashion undisturbed. AsZiska went on, he became aware that the throng of people was unusuallygreat, and that the day was in some sort more peculiar than theordinary Jewish Sabbath. That the young men and girls should be dressedin their best clothes was, as a matter of course, incidental to theday; but he could perceive that there was an outward appearance of galafestivity about them which could not take place every week. The tallbright-eyed black-haired girls stood talking in the streets, withsomething of boldness in their gait and bearing, dressed many of themin white muslin, with bright ribbons and full petticoats, and thatsmall bewitching Hungarian hat which they delight to wear. They stoodtalking somewhat loudly to each other, or sat at the open windows;while the young men in black frock-coats and black hats, with crimsoncravats, clustered by themselves, wishing, but not daring so early inthe day, to devote themselves to the girls, who appeared, or attemptedto appear, unaware of their presence. Who can say why it is that thoseencounters, which are so ardently desired by both sides, are so rarelyable to get themselves commenced till the enemies have been long insight of each other? But so it is among Jews and Christians, among richand poor, out under the open sky, and even in the atmosphere of theball-room, consecrated though it be to such purposes. Go into anypublic dancing-room of Vienna, where the girls from the shops and theyoung men from their desks congregate to waltz and make love, and youshall observe that from ten to twelve they will dance as vigorously asat a later hour, but that they will hardly talk to each other till themellowness of the small morning hours has come upon them.

  Among these groups in the Jewish quarter Ziska made his way, consciousthat the girls eyed him and whispered to each other something as tohis presence, and conscious also that the young men eyed him also,though they did so without speaking of him as he passed. He knew thatTrendellsohn lived close to the synagogue, and to the synagogue he madehis way. And as he approached the narrow door of the Jews' church, hesaw that a crowd of men stood round it, some in high caps and some inblack hats, but all habited in short muslin shirts, which they woreover their coats. Such dresses he had seen before, and he knew thatthese men were taking part from time to time in some service withinthe synagogue. He did not dare to ask of one of them which wasTrendellsohn's house, but went on till he met an old man alone just atthe back of the building, dressed also in a high cap and shirt, whichshirt, however, was longer than those he had seen before. Plucking uphis courage, he asked of the old man which was the house of AntonTrendellsohn.

  "Anton Trendellsohn has no house," said the old man; "but that is hisfather's house, and there Anton Trendellsohn lives. I am StephenTrendellsohn, and Anton is my son."

  Ziska thanked him, and, crossing the street to the house, found thatthe door was open, and that two girls were standing just within thepassage. The old m
an had gone, and Ziska, turning, had perceived thathe was out of sight before he reached the house.

  "I cannot come till my uncle returns," said the younger girl.

  "But, Ruth, he will be in the synagogue all day," said the elder, whowas that Rebecca Loth of whom the old Jew had spoken to his son.

  "Then all day I must remain," said Ruth; "but it may be he will be inby one." Then Ziska addressed them, and asked if Anton Trendellsohn didnot live there.

  "Yes; he lives there," said Ruth, almost trembling, as she answered thehandsome stranger.

  "And is he at home?"

  "He is in the synagogue," said Ruth. "You will find him there if youwill go in."

  "But they are at worship there," said Ziska, doubtingly.

  "They will be at worship all day, because it is our festival," saidRebecca, with her eyes fixed upon the ground; "but if you are aChristian they will not object to your going in. They like thatChristians should see them. They are not ashamed."

  Ziska, looking into the girl's face, saw that she was very beautiful;and he saw also at once that she was exactly the opposite of Nina,though they were both of a height. Nina was fair, with grey eyes, andsmooth brown hair which seemed to demand no special admiration, thoughit did in truth add greatly to the sweet delicacy of her face; and shewas soft in her gait, and appeared to be yielding and flexible in allthe motions of her body. You would think that if you were permitted toembrace her, the outlines of her body would form themselves to yours,as though she would in all things fit herself to him who might beblessed by her love. But Rebecca Loth was dark, with large dark-blueeyes and jet black tresses, which spoke out loud to the beholder oftheir own loveliness. You could not fail to think of her hair and ofher eyes, as though they were things almost separate from herself. Andshe stood like a queen, who knew herself to be all a queen, strong onher limbs, wanting no support, somewhat hard withal, with a repellantbeauty that seemed to disdain while it courted admiration, and utterlyrejected the idea of that caressing assistance which men always loveto give, and which women often love to receive. At the present momentshe was dressed in a frock of white muslin, looped round the skirt,and bright with ruby ribbons. She had on her feet coloured boots,which fitted them to a marvel, and on her glossy hair a small new hat,ornamented with the plumage of some strange bird. On her shoulders shewore a coloured jacket, open down the front, sparkling with jewelledbuttons, over which there hung a chain with a locket. In her ears shecarried long heavy earrings of gold. Were it not that Ziska had seenothers as gay in their apparel on his way, he would have fancied thatshe was tricked out for the playing of some special part, and that sheshould hardly have shown herself in the streets with her gala finery.Such was Rebecca Loth the Jewess, and Ziska almost admitted to himselfthat she was more beautiful than Nina Balatka.

  "And are you also of the family?" Ziska asked.

  "No; she is not of the family," said Ruth. "She is my particularfriend, Rebecca Loth. She does not live here. She lives with herbrother and her mother."

  "Ruth, how foolish you are! What does it signify to the gentleman?"

  "But he asked, and so I supposed he wanted to know."

  "I have to apologise for intruding on you with any questions youngladies," said Ziska; "especially on a day which seems to be solemn."

  "That does not matter at all," said Rebecca. "Here is my brother,and he will take you into the synagogue if you wish to see AntonTrendellsohn." Samuel Loth, her brother, then came up and readilyoffered to take Ziska into the midst of the worshippers. Ziska wouldhave escaped now from the project could he have done so without remark;but he was ashamed to seem afraid to enter the building, as thegirls seemed to make so light of his doing so. He therefore followedRebecca's brother, and in a minute or two was inside the narrow door.

  The door was very low and narrow, and seemed to be choked up by menwith short white surplices, but nevertheless he found himself inside,jammed among a crowd of Jews; and a sound of many voices, goingtogether in a sing-song wail or dirge, met his ears. His first impulsewas to take off his hat, but that was immediately replaced upon hishead, he knew not by whom; and then he observed that all within thebuilding were covered. His guide did not follow him, but whispered tosome one what it was that the stranger required. He could see thatthose inside the building were all clothed in muslin shirts ofdifferent lengths, and that it was filled with men, all of whom hadbefore them some sort of desk, from which they were reading, or ratherwailing out their litany. Though this was the chief synagogue inPrague, and, as being the so-called oldest in Europe, is a buildingof some consequence in the Jewish world, it was very small. There wasno ceiling, and the high-pitched roof, which had once probably beencoloured, and the walls, which had once certainly been white, wereblack with the dirt of ages. In the centre there was a cage, as itwere, or iron grille, within which five or six old Jews were placed,who seemed to wail louder than the others. Round the walls there wasa row of men inside stationary desks, and outside them another row,before each of whom there was a small movable standing desk, on whichthere was a portion of the law of Moses. There seemed to be no possibleway by which Ziska could advance, and he would have been glad toretreat had retreat been possible. But first one Jew and then anothermoved their desks for him, so that he was forced to advance, and someamong them pointed to the spot where Anton Trendellsohn was standing.But as they pointed, and as they moved their desks to make a pathway,they still sang and wailed continuously, never ceasing for an instantin their long, loud, melancholy song of prayer. At the further endthere seemed to be some altar, in front of which the High Priest wailedlouder than all, louder even than the old men within the cage; and evenhe, the High Priest, was forced to move his desk to make way for Ziska.But, apparently without displeasure, he moved it with his left hand,while he swayed his right hand backwards and forwards as thoughregulating the melody of the wail. Beyond the High Priest Ziska sawAnton Trendellsohn, and close to the son he saw the old man whom hehad met in the street, and whom he recognised as Anton's father. OldTrendellsohn seemed to take no notice of him, but Anton had watched himfrom his entrance, and was prepared to speak to him, though he did notdiscontinue his part in the dirge till the last moment.

  "I had a few words to say to you, if it would suit you," said Ziska, ina low voice.

  "Are they of import?" Trendellsohn asked. "If so, I will come to you."

  Ziska then turned to make his way back, but he saw that this was notto be his road for retreat. Behind him the movable phalanx had againformed itself into close rank, but before him the wailing wearers ofthe white shirts were preparing for the commotion of his passage bygrasping the upright stick of their movable desks in their hands. So hepassed on, making the entire round of the synagogue; and when he gotoutside the crowded door, he found that the younger Trendellsohn hadfollowed him. "We had better go into the house," said Anton; "it willnot be well for us to talk here on any matter of business. Will youfollow me?"

  Then he led the way into the old house, and there at the front doorstill stood the two girls talking to each other.

  "You have come back, uncle," said Ruth.

  "Yes; for a few moments, to speak to this gentleman."

  "And will you return to the synagogue?"

  "Of course I shall return to the synagogue."

  "Because Rebecca wishes me to go out with her," said the younger girl,in a plaintive voice.

  "You cannot go out now. Your grandfather will want you when hereturns."

  "But, uncle Anton, he will not come till sunset."

  "My mother wished to have Ruth with her this afternoon if it werepossible," said Rebecca, hardly looking at Anton as she spoke to him;"but of course if you will not give her leave I must return withouther."

  "Do you not know, Rebecca," said Anton, "that she is needful to hergrandfather?"

  "She could be back before sunset."

  "I will trust to you, then, that she is brought back." Ruth, as soonas she heard the words, scampered up-stairs to array herself
in suchfinery as she possessed, while Rebecca still stood at the door.

  "Will you not come in, Rebecca, while you wait for her?" said Anton.

  "Thank you, I will stand here. I am very well here."

  "But the child will be ever so long making herself ready. Surely youwill come in."

  But Rebecca was obstinate, and kept her place at the door. "He has thatChristian girl there with him day after day," she said to Ruth as theywent away together. "I will never enter the house while she is allowedto come there."

  "But Nina is very good," said Ruth.

  "I do not care for her goodness."

  "Do you not know that she is to be uncle Anton's wife?"

  "They have told me so, but she shall be no friend of mine, Ruth. Is itnot shameful that he should wish to marry a Christian?"

  When the two men had reached the sitting-room in the Jew's house, andZiska had seated himself, Anton Trendellsohn closed the door, andasked, not quite in anger, but with something of sternness in hisvoice, why he had been disturbed while engaged in an act of worship.

  "They told me that you would not mind my going in to you," said Ziska,deprecating his wrath.

  "That depends on your business. What is it that you have to say to me?"

  "It is this. When you came to us the other day in the Ross Markt, wewere hardly prepared for you. We did not expect you."

  "Your mother could hardly have received me better had she expected mefor a twelvemonth."

  "You cannot be surprised that my mother should be vexed. Besides, youwould not be angry with a lady for what she might say."

  "I care but little what she says. But words, my friend, are things,and are often things of great moment. All that, however, matters verylittle. Why have you done us the honour of coming to our house?"

  Even Ziska could perceive, though his powers of perception in suchmatters were perhaps not very great, that the Jew in the Jews' quarter,and the Jew in the Ross Markt, were very different persons. Ziska wasnow sitting while Anton Trendellsohn was standing over him. Ziska, whenhe remembered that Anton had not been seated in his father's office--had not been asked to sit down--would have risen himself, and havestood during the interview, but he did not know how to leave his seat.And when the Jew called him his friend, he felt that the Jew wasgetting the better of him--was already obtaining the ascendant. "Ofcourse we wish to prevent this marriage," said Ziska, dashing at onceat his subject.

  "You cannot prevent it. The law allows it. If that is what you have tocome to do, you may as well return."

  "But listen to me, my friend," said Ziska, taking a leaf out of theJew's book. "Only listen to me, and then I shall go."

  "Speak, then, and I will listen; but be quick."

  "You want, of course, to be made right about those houses?"

  "My father, to whom they belong, wishes to be made right, as you callit."

  "It is all the same thing. Now, look here. The truth is this.Everything shall be settled for you, and the whole thing given upregularly into your hands, if you will only give over about NinaBalatka."

  "But I will not give over about Nina Balatka. Am I to be bribed out ofmy love by an offer of that which is already mine own? But that you arein my father's house, I would be wrathful with you for making me suchan offer."

  "Why should you seek a Christian wife, with such maidens among you asher whom I saw at the door?"

  "Do not mind the maiden whom you saw at the door. She is nothing toyou."

  "No; she is nothing to me. Of course, the lady is nothing to me. If Iwere to come here looking for her, you would be angry, and would bid meseek for beauty among my own people. Would you not do so? Answer menow."

  "Like enough. Rebecca Loth has many friends who would take her part."

  "And why should we not take Nina's part--we who are her friends?"

  "Have you taken her part? Have you comforted her when she was insorrow? Have you wiped her tears when she wept? Have you taken from herthe stings of poverty, and striven to make the world to her a pleasantgarden? She has no mother of her own. Has yours been a mother to her?Why is it that Nina Balatka has cared to receive the sympathy and thelove of a Jew? Ask that girl whom you saw at the door for some cornerin her heart, and she will scorn you. She, a Jewess, will scorn you, aChristian. She would so look at you that you would not dare to repeatyour prayer. Why is it that Nina has not so scorned me? We are lodgedpoorly here, while Nina's aunt has a fine house in the New Town. Shehas a carriage and horses, and the world around her is gay and bright.Why did Nina come to the Jews' quarter for sympathy, seeing that she,too, has friends of her own persuasion? Take Nina's part, indeed! It istoo late now for you to take her part. She has chosen for herself, andher resting-place is to be here." Trendellsohn, as he spoke, put hishand upon his breast, within the fold of his waistcoat; but Ziskahardly understood that his doing so had any special meaning. Ziskasupposed that the "here" of which the Jew spoke was the old house inwhich they were at that moment talking to each other.

  "I am sure we have meant to be kind to her," said Ziska.

  "You see the effect of your kindness. I tell you this only in answer towhat you said as to the young woman whom you saw at the door. Have youaught else to say to me? I utterly decline that small matter of trafficwhich you have proposed to me."

  "It was not traffic exactly."

  "Very well. What else is there that I can do for you?"

  "I hardly know how to go on, as you are so--so hard in all that yousay."

  "You will not be able to soften me, I fear."

  "About the houses--though you say that I am trafficking, I really wishto be honest with you."

  "Say what you have to say, then, and be honest."

  "I have never seen but one document which conveys the ownership ofthose houses."

  "Let my father, then, have that one document."

  "It is in Balatka's house."

  "That can hardly be possible," said Trendellsohn.

  "As I am a Christian gentleman," said Ziska, "I believe it to be inthat house."

  "As I am a Jew, sir, fearing God," said the other, "I do not believeit. Who in that house has the charge of it?"

  Ziska hesitated before he replied. "Nina, as I think," he said at last."I suppose Nina has it herself."

  "Then she would be a traitor to me."

  "What am I to say as to that?" said Ziska, smiling. Trendellsohn cameto him and sat down close at his side, looking closely into his face.Ziska would have moved away from the Jew, but the elbow of the sofadid not admit of his receding; and then, while he was thinking that hewould escape by rising from his seat, Anton spoke again in a low voice--so low that it was almost a whisper, but the words seemed to falldirect into Ziska's ears, and to hurt him. "What are you to say? Youcalled yourself just now a Christian gentleman. Neither the one namenor the other goes for aught with me. I am neither the one nor theother. But I am a man; and I ask you, as another man, whether it betrue that Nina Balatka has that paper in her possession--in her ownpossession, mind you, I say." Ziska had hesitated before, but hishesitation now was much more palpable. "Why do you not answer me?"continued the Jew. "You have made this accusation against her. Isthe accusation true?"

  "I think she has it," said Ziska. "Indeed I feel sure of it."

  "In her own hands?"

  "Oh yes; in her own hands. Of course it must be in her own hands."

  "Christian gentleman," said Anton, rising again from his seat, and nowstanding opposite to Ziska, "I disbelieve you. I think that you arelying to me. Despite your Christianity, and despite your gentility--youare a liar. Now, sir, unless you have anything further to say to me,you may go."

  Ziska, when thus addressed, rose of course from his seat. By nature hewas not a coward, but he was unready, and knew not what to do or to sayon the spur of the moment. "I did not come here to be insulted," hesaid.

  "No; you came to insult me, with two falsehoods in your mouth, eitherof which proves the other to be a lie. You offer to give me up thedeeds on
certain conditions, and then tell me that they are with thegirl! If she has them, how can you surrender them? I do not knowwhether so silly a story might prevail between two Christians, but weJews have been taught among you to be somewhat observant. Sir, it ismy belief that the document belonging to my father is in your father'sdesk in the Ross Markt."

  "By heaven, it is in the house in the Kleinseite."

  "How could you then have surrendered it?"

  "It could have been managed."

  It was now the Jew's turn to pause and hesitate. In the generalconclusion to which his mind had come, he was not far wrong. Hethought that Ziska was endeavouring to deceive him in the spirit ofwhat he said, but that as regarded the letter, the young man wasendeavouring to adhere to some fact for the salvation of his conscienceas a Christian. If Anton Trendellsohn could but find out in what laythe quibble, the discovery might be very serviceable to him. "It couldhave been managed--could it?" he said, speaking very slowly. "Betweenyou and her, perhaps."

  "Well, yes; between me and Nina--or between some of us," said Ziska.

  "And cannot it be managed now?"

  "Nina is not one of us now. How can we deal with her?"

  "Then I will deal with her myself. I will manage it if it is to bemanaged. And, sir, if I find that in this matter you have told me thesimple truth--not the truth, mind you, as from a gentleman, or thetruth as from a Christian, for I suspect both--but the simple truth asfrom man to man, then I will express my sorrow for the harsh words Ihave used to you." As he finished speaking, Trendellsohn held the doorof the room open in his hand, and Ziska, not being ready with anyanswer, passed through it and descended the stairs. The Jew followedhim and also held open the house door, but did not speak again as Ziskawent out. Nor did Ziska say a word, the proper words not being ready tohis tongue. The Jew returned at once into the synagogue, having duringthe interview with Ziska worn the short white surplice in which he hadbeen found; and Ziska returned at once to his own house in theWindberg-gasse.