Christian--the Law that was signed at Runnymede.'

'Why, that's Magna Charta!' Dan whispered. It was one of the few history
dates that he could remember. Kadmiel turned on him with a sweep and a
whirr of his spicy-scented gown.

'Dost _thou_ know of that, babe?' he cried, and lifted his hands in
wonder.

'Yes,' said Dan, firmly.

'Magna Charta was signed by John,
That Henry the Third put his heel upon.

And old Hobden says that if it hadn't been for her (he calls everything
"her," you know), the keepers would have him clapped in Lewes Gaol all the
year round.'

Again Puck translated to Kadmiel in the strange, solemn-sounding language,
and at last Kadmiel laughed.

'Out of the mouths of babes do we learn,' said he. 'But tell me now, and I
will not call you a babe but a Rabbi, _why_ did the King sign the roll of
the New Law at Runnymede? For he was a King.'

Dan looked sideways at his sister. It was her turn.

'Because he jolly well had to,' said Una, softly. 'The Barons made him.'

'Nay,' Kadmiel answered, shaking his head. 'You Christians always forget
that gold does more than the sword. Our good King signed because he could
not borrow more money from us bad Jews.' He curved his shoulders as he
spoke. 'A King without gold is a snake with a broken back, and'--his nose
sneered up and his eyebrows frowned down--'it is a good deed to break a
snake's back. That was _my_ work,' he cried, triumphantly, to Puck.
'Spirit of Earth, bear witness that that was my work!' He shot up to his
full towering height, and his words rang like a trumpet. He had a voice
that changed its tone almost as an opal changes colour--sometimes deep and
thundery, sometimes thin and waily, but always it made you listen.

'Many people can bear witness to that,' Puck answered. 'Tell these babes
how it was done. Remember, Master, they do not know Doubt or Fear.'

'So I saw in their faces when we met,' said Kadmiel. 'Yet surely, surely
they are taught to spit upon Jews?'

'Are they?' said Dan, much interested. 'Where at?'

Puck fell back a pace, laughing. 'Kadmiel is thinking of King John's
reign,' he explained. 'His people were badly treated then.'

'Oh, we know _that_,' they answered, and (it was very rude of them, but
they could not help it) they stared straight at Kadmiel's mouth to see if
his teeth were all there. It stuck in their lesson-memory that King John
used to pull out Jews' teeth to make them lend him money.

Kadmiel un