I know what you would say. But I will be no
common murderer. I will not kill her as she would have killed me. Warn
her, not me. Go to her and say, 'Israel Kafka has promised before God
that he will take your blood in expiation, and there is no escape from
the man who is himself ready to die.' Tell her to fly for her life, and
that quickly."
"And what will you gain by doing this murder?" asked the Wanderer,
calmly. He was revolving schemes for Unorna's safety, and half amazed to
find himself forced in common humanity to take her part.
"I shall free myself of my shame in loving her, at the price of her
blood and mine. Will you go?"
"And what is to prevent me from delivering you over to safe keeping
before you do this deed?"
"You have no witness," answered Kafka with a smile. "You are a stranger
in the city and in this country, and I am rich. I shall easily prove
that you love Unorna, and that you wish to get rid of me out of
jealousy."
"That is true," said the Wanderer, thoughtfully. "I will go."
"Go quickly, then," said Israel Kafka, "for I shall follow soon."
As the Wanderer left the room he saw the Moravian turn toward the place
where the keen, splendid Eastern weapons hung upon the wall.
CHAPTER XVII
The Wanderer knew that the case was urgent and the danger great. There
was no mistaking the tone of Israel Kafka's voice nor the look in his
face. Nor did the savage resolution seem altogether unnatural in a man
of the Moravian's breeding.
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