"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 in sorrow? Have you wiped her tears when she wept? Have you taken from her the stings of poverty, and striven to make the world to her a pleasant garden? 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 the love of a Jew? Ask that girl whom you saw at the door for some corner in her heart, and she will scorn you. She, a Jewess, will scorn you, a Christian. She would so look at you that you would not dare to repeat your prayer. Why is it that Nina has not so scorned me? We are lodged poorly here, while Nina's aunt has a fine house in the New Town. She has 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 is too late now for you to take her part. She has chosen for herself, and her resting-place is to be here." Trendellsohn, as he spoke, put his hand upon his breast, within the fold of his waistcoat; but Ziska hardly understood that his doing so had any special meaning. Ziska supposed that the "here" of which the Jew spoke was the old house in which 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 to what you said as to the young woman whom you saw at the door. Have you aught else to say to me? I utterly decline that small matter of traffic which 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 you say." "You will not be able to soften me, I fear." "About the houses--though you say that I am trafficking, I really wish to 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 of those 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 in that house." "As I am a Jew, sir, fearing God," said the other, "I do not believe it. 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."