Belasez was silent beyond a slight reverence to show that she heard the observation. "But hast thou had enough?" pursued the Countess, still unsatisfied. "I am greatly obliged to my Lady, and quite ready to serve her," was the evasive reply. The Countess looked hard at Belasez, but she said no more. She despatched Levina for the scarf which was to be copied, and gave the young Jewess her instructions. The exquisite work which grew in Belasez's skilful hands evidently delighted the Countess. She was extremely kind, and the reserved but sensitive nature of Belasez went out towards her in fervent love. To Margaret, the Jewish broideress was an object of equal mystery and interest. She would sit watching her work for long periods. She noticed that Belasez ignored the existence of her private oratory, made no reverence to the gilded Virgin which stood on a bracket in her wardrobe, and passed the _benitier_ without vouchsafing the least attention to the holy water. Manifestly, Jews did not believe in gilded images and holy water. But then, in what did they believe? Had they any faith in any thing? Belasez had owned to saying her prayers, and she acknowledged the existence of some law which she felt herself bound to obey. But whose law was it?--and to whom did she pray? These thoughts seethed in Margaret's brain till at last, one afternoon when she sat watching the embroidery, they burst forth into speech, "Belasez!" "What would my damsel?" "Belasez, what dost thou believe?" The Jewess looked up in surprise. "I am not sure that I understand my damsel's question. Will she condescend to explain?" "I mean, what god dost thou worship?" "There is but one God," answered Belasez, solemnly. "That I believe, too: but we do not worship the same God, do we?" "I think we do--to a certain extent." "But there is a difference between us. What is the difference?" Belasez seemed to hesitate. "Don't be afraid, but speak out!" said Margaret, eagerly. "If I say what my Lady would not approve, would it be right in me?" "My Lady and mother will not mind. Go on!" "Damsel, I think the difference touches Him who is the Sent of God, and the Son of the Blessed. We believe in Him, as well as you. But we believe that He is yet to come, and is to be the salvation of Israel. You believe,"--Belasez's words came slowly, as if dragged from her--"that He is come, long ago; and you think He will save all men." "But that is our Lord Christ, surely?" said Margaret. "You call Him so," was Belasez's reply. "But He did come!" said Margaret, in a puzzled tone. "A man came, undoubtedly, who claimed to be the Man who was to come. But was the claim a true one?" "I have always been told that it was!" "And I have always been told that it was not." "Then how are we to find out which is true?" Belasez spread her hands out with a semi-Eastern gesture, which indicated hopeless incapacity, of some sort.