Chamberss Edinburgh Journal, No. 449 | Page 7

little longer than
was necessary on the way, because he had found some means of
persuading the messenger to let him call on two or three friends as he
came along. He did not lose much time by this, however; his only
object being to ask them, to what extent they could help him in case the
loan should be very large. Satisfied on this point, and preoccupied by
the thoughts which had suggested the inquiry, he stood before the
sultan. Great, therefore, was his surprise, when his sublime highness,
instead of saying a word about money-matters, briefly, but clearly,
explained to him the nature of the business in which his service was
required.
'Your sublime highness is pleased to jest with your servant,' said the
rabbi, as soon as he could command breath enough to utter the words.
'Not at all,' replied the sultan; 'you will find me quite in earnest, I assure
you. He reads, and, I am told, reads as well as can be expected without
the points; now you must teach him to read with them.'
The rabbi was utterly confounded. He could only bow down his head,
wondering what the sultan could mean, and what he would say next,
and whether it would throw any light on what he had said already. So
his sublime highness continued, with some asperity: 'Do not think to
deceive me. I know all about the matter. You can do it, and you had
better not hesitate; for I am in no humour to be trifled with. I gave the
Christians six weeks, and I'll give you the same. Don't answer, but go,
and he shall be sent to you.'
The unhappy rabbi returned home in a state of bewilderment. He sent
for some of his friends to consult with, most of whom were as much
surprised as he had been, when they learned the nature of the business
which had produced the summons. Only one of them, who happened to
be a friend of the missing doctor, seemed to know anything about the
matter; and he could not throw much light upon it. He could only tell
them, for their comfort, that it was a very serious affair, and they must

mind what they were about.
It would be only tiresome, if it were possible, to particularise all the
suggestions and discussions which ensued. They were still going on
when the bear arrived, and was duly installed in an apartment which
had been prepared for him, as well as it could be on such short notice;
for all agreed, that he must be treated with great care and attention, not
only in order to propitiate him, but because it might be dangerous to let
him return in worse condition than he came. So neither trouble nor cost
was spared to make him comfortable; and very comfortable he was:
supplied with every luxury, crammed with dainties, and petted in every
conceivable way. But whatever progress he might make in the study of
mankind, and in other branches of useful knowledge, it was plain that
he was making none in that particular branch of learning for which he
had been sent to school. His instructors did not know how to deal with
him. He was on easy terms with all about him, would play with
anybody, and quarrelled with nobody; but learn he would not. When
they held a book before him, he thrust his nose into the cream-bowl;
when they spoke of Pathach and Segol, he shut one eye, and munched
figs; and when, 'as a bird each fond endearment tries,' they set up a
stave which might have made the very learned the Masorites to dance
for joy, in the hope that instinctively, or by mere love of imitation, he
might be led to join in the chorus, he only threw himself on his back,
and fairly roared them down.
Sensible of all this, and of its probable consequences, the instructors
had not been idle in another direction. They had used their utmost
endeavours to learn how the pupil had been dealt with by his former
tutor. But all their inquiries were fruitless. Titus had kept his secret so
effectually, that even Timothy knew little, if anything, more than other
people; or, in other words, more than had been transacted before the
sultan and his court. But in collecting all such information as could be
gleaned, they were indefatigable, and were scrupulously careful to
imitate everything which had been done, not knowing what hidden
virtue there might be in things apparently trivial. They provided a great
book and a desk; and did, and were prepared to do, all that, so far as
they could learn, had been done before. And so matters went on, until

the time came for them to