Page:Zawis and Kunigunde (1895).djvu/42

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38
THE BATTLE

of that star to others not yet perceptible I shall be better able to infer my position. Some data for my calculations are not yet at hand, and it must be my business to acquire them.” The Jew then relapsed into silence. After an interval the commanding officer approached, accompanied by two esquires, one the same who already appeared, and another of swarthy yellow complexion, bearing in one hand a tablet consisting of separate leaves of semi-transparent whitish paper, and in another a reed pen and a small cup containing a sponge soaked in ink.

“Whence come you?” abruptly inquired Don Abraham. “From Cordova,or rather from the remnant of it,” promptly replied Solomon. “Your business?” “Physician and student of nature.” “Your purpose in this journeying?” “The acquisition of potent wisdom which the bounty of universally diffused life and activity, and intelligence of the laws and qualities of plants supplies to those of my profession whose nature is in harmony with their manifestations and can assimilate their vitalizing influences.” “Are you acquainted in these countries?” “There are some brethren some time resident among the Lech. Them I would visit in order to convey to my own land the results of development attained by them, and possibly convey to their intelligence the results that have been manifested to us.” “Search these men,” ordered Don Abraham. The esquire examined the raiment of the strangers carefully, but without offensive minuteness. Solomon was, however, required to remoye his semi-turban, which suffered