_He._--In the house of a Jew. He had at first surprised pity, then goodwill, then entire confidence, for that is how it always happens: we count so strongly on our kindness, that we seldom hide our secrets from anybody on whom we have heaped benefits. How should there not be ingrates in the world, when we expose this man to the temptation of being ungrateful with impunity? That is a just reflection which our Jew failed to make. He confided to the renegade that he could not conscientiously eat pork. You will see the advantage that a fertile wit knew how to get from such a confession. Some months passed, during which our renegade redoubled his attentions; when he believed his Jew thoroughly touched, thoroughly captivated, thoroughly convinced that he had no better friend among all the tribes of Israel ... now admire the circumspection of the man! He is in no hurry; he lets the pear ripen before he shakes the branch; too much haste might have ruined his design. It is because greatness of character usually results from the natural balance between several opposite qualities. _I._--Pray leave your reflections, and go straight on with your story. _He._--That is impossible. There are days when I cannot help reflecting; 'tis a malady that must be allowed to run its course. Where was I? _I._--At the intimacy that had been established between the Jew and the renegade. _He._--Then the pear was ripe.... But you are not listening; what are you dreaming about? _I._--I am thinking of the curious inequality in your tone, now so high, now so low. _He._--How can a man made of vices be one and the same?... He reaches his friend's house one night, with an air of violent perturbation, with broken accents, a face as pale as death, and trembling in every limb. "What is the matter with you?"--"We are ruined." "Ruined, how?"--"Ruined, I tell you, beyond all help."--"Explain."--"One moment, until I have recovered from my fright."--"Come, then, recover yourself," says the Jew.... "A traitor has informed against us before the Holy Inquisition, you as a Jew, me as a renegade, an infamous renegade...." Mark how the traitor does not blush to use the most odious expressions. It needs more courage than you may suppose to call one's self by one's right name; you do not know what an effort it costs to come to that. _I._--No, I daresay not. But "the infamous renegade----" _He._--He is false, but his falsity is adroit enough. The Jew takes fright, tears his beard, rolls on the ground, sees the officers at his door, sees himself clad in the _Sanbenito_, sees his _auto-da-fe_ all made ready. "My friend," he cries, "my good, tender friend, my only friend, what is to be done?"