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On the basement floor there had once been a shop. There was no shop now, for the Trendellsohns were rich, and no longer dealt in retail matters; but there had been no care, or perhaps no ambition, at work, to alter the appearance of their residence, and the old shutters were upon the window, making the house look as though it were deserted.
She could revile them behind their back, or, if opportunity offered, to their faces; and both she had done often, telling the world of Prague that the Trendellsohns had killed her sister, and robbed her foolish brother-in-law. But hitherto the full vial of her wrath had not been emptied, as it came to be emptied afterwards; for she had not yet learned the mad iniquity of her niece.
There was a high-pitched sharp roof over the gable, which, as the building stood alone fronting upon the synagogue, made it so remarkable, that all who knew Prague well, knew the house in which the Trendellsohns lived. Nina had often wished, as in latter days she had entered it, that it was less remarkable, so that she might have gone in and out with smaller risk of observation.
So at least Ziska argued in his own mind. "I do not want to keep anything that belongs to anybody," said Ziska. "If the papers are with us, I am willing that they should be given up that is, if it be right that they should be given up." "It is right," said Nina. "I believe the Trendellsohns should have them either father or son," said old Balatka.
In the middle of that close and densely populated region of Prague stands the old Jewish synagogue the oldest place of worship belonging to the Jews in Europe, as they delight to tell you; and in a pinched-up, high-gabled house immediately behind the synagogue, at the corner of two streets, each so narrow as hardly to admit a vehicle, dwelt the Trendellsohns.
That he must be obeyed she still recognised as the strongest rule of all obeyed, that is, till she should go to him and lay down her love at his feet, and give back to him the troth which he had given her. "Father," she said to the old man about noon that day, "I suppose this house does belong to the Trendellsohns?" "Of course it does," said he, crossly.
But Sophie Zamenoy was alive and strong, and could still hate a Jew as intensely as Jews ever were hated in those earlier days in which hatred could satisfy itself with persecution. In her time but little power was left to Madame Zamenoy to persecute the Trendellsohns other than that which nature had given to her in the bitterness of her tongue.
It was to him that the money had been advanced, but to the Zamenoys that it had in truth been paid; and Anton declared his purpose of going to Karil Zamenoy and himself making his demand. And then there had been a discussion, almost amounting to a quarrel, between the two Trendellsohns as to Nina Balatka.
"Have you, father?" said she, anxiously, but struggling to repress her anxiety. "I had it, I know. It was written ever so long ago before I had settled with the Trendellsohns; but I have seen it often since. Take the key and unlock the desk, and bring me the bundle of papers that are tied with an old tape; or stop bring me all the papers." With trembling hand Nina took the key.
"He is able to do nothing, and there is nothing for him to do nothing that can be of any use. But of course he should see that those who have been good to him are not are not injured because of their kindness." "You mean those Jews the Trendellsohns." "Yes, those Jews the Trendellsohns! You would not rob a man because he is a Jew," said she, repeating the old words.
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