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Gregorio retold the terrible story。
〃You know nothing of all this？〃 he added； suspiciously； as his narrative
ended。
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〃Nothing。〃
〃My God！ it is so awful I thought all the world knew of it。 You often
nursed and played with the boy？〃
〃Ay； and fed him。 We Arabs love children； even Christian children； and
I will help you if I can。〃
〃Why should Amos want the boy？〃 asked Madam Marx； as she put
coffee and tobacco before the guests。
〃Because I owe him money； and he knew the loss of my son would be
the deadliest revenge。 He will make my son a Jew； a beastly Jew。 By God；
he shall not； he shall not！〃
〃We must find him and save him；〃 said the woman。
〃He will never be a Jew。 That is not what Amos wants your son for；
there are plenty of Jews。〃 Ahmed spoke quietly。
〃They sacrifice children；〃 he continued； after a moment's pause；
〃surely you know that； and if you would save your boy there is not much
time to lose。〃
Gregorio trembled at Ahmed's words。 He wondered how he could have
forgotten the common report； and his fingers grasped convulsively the
handle of his knife。
〃Let us go to Amos；〃 he said； speaking the words with difficulty； for he
was choking with fear for his son。
〃Wait；〃 answered the Arab； 〃I will come again to…night and bring some
friends with me； two men who will be glad to serve you。 We Arabs are not
sorry to strike at the Jews； we have our own wrongs。 Wait here till I
come。〃
〃But what will you do？〃 asked Madam Marx； looking anxiously on the
man she loved； though her words were for the Arab。
〃Gregorio will ask for his son。 If the old man refuses to restore him； or
denies that he has taken him； then we will know the worst； and then〃
Gregorio's knife…blade glittered in the sunset rays； as he tested its
sharpness between thumb and finger。 The Arab watched with a smile。 〃We
understand one another；〃 he said。 There was no need to finish the
description of his plan。 With a solemn wave of his hand he left the cafe。
〃That man Ahmed；〃 said Madam Marx； 〃has a grudge against Amos。 It
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dates from the bombardment； and he had waited all these years to avenge
himself。 I believe it was the loss of his wife。〃
〃Amos made her a Jewess； eh？〃 And then； after a pause； Gregorio
added：
〃So we can depend on Ahmed。 To…night I will win back my son or〃
〃Or？〃 queried madam； tremblingly。
〃Or Amos starts on his journey to hell。 God； how my fingers itch to
slay him！ The devil； the Jew devil！〃
X AT THE HOUSE OF AMOS
As Ahmed had advised； Gregorio settled himself patiently to await the
summons。 Madam would have liked to ask him many questions； and to
have extracted a promise from him not to risk his life in any mad
enterprise his accomplice might suggest。 But though the Greek's body
seemed almost lifeless； so quietly and immovably he rested on his chair；
there was a restless look in his eyes that told her how fiercely and
irrepressibly his anger burned。 She knew enough of his race to know that
no power on earth could stop him striking for revenge。 And she trembled；
for she knew also that directly he had begun to strike his madness would
increase； and that only sheer physical exhaustion would stay his hand。
Madam Marx was unhappy； and as she waited on her customers her
eyes rested continually on the Greek； who heeded her not。 Once she
carried some wine to him； and he drank eagerly； spilling a few drops on
the floor first。 〃It's like blood；〃 he muttered； and smiled。 Madam hastily
covered his mouth with her trembling fingers。
Just before midnight Ahmed arrived with his two friends。 Gregorio
saw them at once； and； calling them to him； they spoke together in low
voices for a few moments。 There was little need for words； and soon；
scarcely noticed by the drinkers and gamblers； they passed out into the
street and walked slowly toward the Jew's house。 Ahmed rapidly repeated
the plan of action。 When they reached the door they stood for a moment
before they woke the Arab； and these words passed between them：
〃For a wife。〃
〃For a sister。〃
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〃For a son。〃
Gregorio then demanded admittance and led the way； followed by his
three friends。 He had visited the house of Amos before； on less bloody but
less delightful business； and he did not hesitate； but strode on to where he
knew the Jew would be。 His companions stood behind the curtain；
awaiting the signal。
Amos looked somewhat surprised at the Greek's entrance； but
motioned him to a seat； and； as on the occasion of his first visit； clapped
his hands together as a signal that coffee and pipes were required。
〃It is kind of you to come； for doubtless you wish to pay me what is
owing。〃
〃I wish to pay you。〃
〃That is well。 I hope you are better again。 I regretted to find you so ill
two nights ago。〃
〃I am better。〃
The conversation ceased； for Gregorio was restless and his fingers
itched to do their work。 Something in his manner alarmed Amos； for he
summoned in two of his servants and raised himself slightly； as if the
better to avoid an attack。 But he continued to smoke calmly； watching the
Greek under his half…closed lids。
〃I have another piece of business to settle with you。〃
〃Do you want to borrow more money because I refuse to lend you
any？〃
〃No； it is you who have borrowed； and I have come to you to receive
back my own。〃
〃I fail to understand you。〃
Gregorio tried to keep calm； but it was not possible。 Rising to his feet；
he bent over the Jew and cried out：
〃Give me back my son； you Jew dog！〃
〃Your son is not here。〃
〃You lie！ by God； you lie！ If he is not here you have murdered him。〃
〃Madman！〃 shouted Amos； as the Greek's knife flashed from its sheath；
but before he or his servants could stay the uplifted arm the Jew sank back
among his cushions； wounded to the heart。 With a shout of triumph and a