'
"'I see that you know about it, Rabbi,' said the frightened
watchman. 'But I can obey you only if you mention the word which
was given to me by my predecessor, because I took a sacred oath on
the Bible.'
"The Polish Jew bent down and slowly pronounced a word of seven
syllables.
"The watchman bowed respectfully.
"'You are the Rabbi!' he said. 'All will be done as you command!'
"'You will send away the friends who are feasting in your house
before the clock strikes eleven. At the first stroke you will open
the gates of the cemetery, and at the last stroke you will get into
your house, lock the doors and windows, lie down in your bed and
turn into a corpse together with the members of your
household,--into a corpse that sees and hears nothing.'
"'I will neither look nor listen.'
"'The angel of death will leave your soul in your body and will
force you to wander about among the graves to the end of time if
you do not carry out my orders correctly. Now go, and remember that
by virtue of your position you are the servant of the great
Jerusalem synagogue. I need not tell you that you should not say
anything to that vain, worldly man who brought me here.'
"Both returned to the gates, near which the banker was still on
guard.
"'Well,' he said, 'your desire is fulfilled, Rabbi, and you may
inform my friend in Warsaw that Rosenberg and Son are always ready
to do a favor to a guest recommended by such a personage.
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