'
"'You are whetting my curiosity, signor!'
"'That is all I wanted to tell you. The other thing--you know that
I am a Jew by birth. Although the Jews have driven me from their
midst and cursed me according to their custom and traditions
because I adopted Christianity,--still I have my own reasons for
stipulating a condition--your word of honor that you will be silent
about all you will see and hear, until I authorize you to speak.'
"'I swear by my honor.'
"'Very well. You will recall in your investigations of the Caballah
that in the mysterious books mention is made of a meeting of the
heads or chosen ones of the nation,--a meeting which takes place
from time to time?'
"'Yes, in the Yezire it is said very definitely, and if I
understood correctly, such meetings take place every hundred
years.'
"'Yes. The last meeting took place in 1760 and you recall that
shortly afterward the movement of Judaism started. It is now 1787
years since the destruction of Jerusalem and this year is
designated for a meeting of the Cabalistic Sanhedrin. This is the
day of the meeting; the place is this city. I want to be present at
this meeting in spite of the danger and am ready to take you along
with me.'
"'But will it not be dishonest to listen, will it not be an
unlawful interference with other people's secrets?'
"'Per Bacco! as we Italians say; with such hesitations you must
abandon once for all the idea of fulfilling your desire.
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