President. "You are right in
naming her your granddaughter, as we have known her to be from the
beginning."

"Then why," said Benoni, "did I not know it also?"

"Because," answered the President quietly, "we did not think it fitting
to deliver a child that was committed to our charge, to the care of one
who had brought her father, and tried to bring her mother, his own seed,
to the most horrible of deaths."

As he spoke he fixed his eyes indignantly upon Benoni; as did every man
of all that great company, till even the bold-faced Jew dropped his head
abashed.

"I am not here," he said, recovering himself, "to make defence of what
I have done, or have not done in the past. I am here to demand that my
grandchild, now as I perceive a woman grown, may be handed over to me,
her natural guardian."

"Before this can be considered," answered the President, "we who have
been her guardians for so many years, should require guarantees and
sureties."

"What guarantees, and what sureties?" asked Benoni.

"These among others--That money sufficient for her support after your
death should be settled upon her. That she shall be left reasonable
liberty in the matter of her daily life and her marriage, if it should
please her to marry. Lastly, that as we have undertaken not to meddle
with her faith, or to oppress her into changing it, so must you
undertake also."

"And if I refuse these things?" asked Benoni.

"Then you see the lady Miriam for the first and last time," answered
the President boldly, while the others nodded approval. "We are men
of peace, but, merchant, you must not, therefore, think us men without
power. We must part with the lady Miriam, who to every one of us is as
a daughter, because the unbreakable rule of our order ordains that she,
who is now a woman grown, can no longer remain among us. But wherever
she dwells, to the last day of her life our love shall go with her
and the whole strength of our Order shall protect her. If any harm is
attempted to her, we shall be swift to hear and swifter to avenge. If
you refuse our conditions, she will vanish from your sight, and then,
merchant, go, search the world, the coasts of Syria, the banks of Egypt,
and the cities of Italy--and find her if you can. We have spoken."

Benoni stroked his white beard before he answered.

"You talk proudly," he said. "Did I shut my eyes I might fancy that this
voice was the voice of a Roman procurator speaking the decrees of Cae