Part 13 (2/2)
”I am _he_!”
Baron Hague's knees began to tremble.
”It is impossible!”
”Israel Hagar,” continued the other sternly. ”Those before you changed your ancient name to Hague; but to me you are Israel Hagar! You doubt, because you dare not believe. But there is that within your soul--that which you inherit from forefathers who obeyed the great King, from forefathers who toiled for Pharaoh--there is that within your soul which tells you _who I am_!”
The Baron could scarcely stand.
”Ach, no!” he groaned. ”What do you want? I will do anything--anything; but let me go!”
”I want you,” continued Severac Bablon, ”since you deny the ring, to draw aside yonder curtain and look upon what it conceals!”
But Hague drew back yet further.
”Ach, no!” he said, huskily. ”I deny nothing! I dare not!”
”By which I know that you have recognised in whose presence you stand, Israel Hagar! Knowing yourself at heart to be a robber, a liar, a hypocrite, you dare not, being also a Jew, raise that veil!”
Baron Hague offered no defence; made no reply.
”You are found guilty, Israel Hagar,” resumed the merciless voice, ”of dragging through the mire of greed--through the sloughs of l.u.s.t of gold--a name once honoured among nations. It is such as you that have earned for the Jewish people a repute it ill deserves. Save for such as Mr. Antony Elschild, you and your like must have blotted out for ever all that is glorious in the Jewish name. Despite all, you have succeeded in staining it--and darkly. I have a mission. It is to erase that stain.
Therefore, when the list appears of those who wish to preserve intact the British Empire, your name shall figure amongst the rest!”
Hague groaned.
”It will be explained, for the benefit of the curious, and to the glory of the Jews, that in some measure of recognition of those vast profits reaped from British ventures, you are desirous of showing your interest in British welfare!”
”It will be my ruin in Berlin!”
”I should regret to think so. Had you, in the whole of your career, during the entire period that you have been swelling your money-bags with British money, devoted one guinea--one paltry guinea--to any charitable purpose here, I had spared you the risk. As matters stand, I shall require your cheque for an amount equal to that subscribed by Mr.
Elschild.”
”_Fifty thousand pounds!_” gasped Hague.
”Exactly! Pen and ink are on the table. Your cheque book I have left in your pocket!”
”I won't----”
Hague met the eyes of the incomprehensible man who watched him from beyond the table; he saw the gleam of the ring, as Severac Bablon placed a pen within reach.
”You--must be--mad!”
”You will decidedly be mad, Baron, if you refuse, for I a.s.sure you, upon my word of honour, I shall lay those papers before those whom they will interest in the morning!”
”And--if--I give you such a----”
”Immediately your cheque is cleared I will return the papers.”
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