By nature he was not a coward, but he was unready, and knew not what to do or to say on the spur of the moment.

"I did not come here to be insulted," he said.
"No; you came to insult me, with two falsehoods in your mouth, either of which proves the other to be a lie.

You offer to give me up the deeds on certain conditions, and then tell me that they are with the girl! If she has them, how can you surrender them?
I do not know whether so silly a story might prevail between two Christians, but we Jews have been taught among you to be somewhat observant.

Sir, it is my belief that the document belonging to my father is in your father's desk in the Ross Markt." "By heaven, it is in the house in the Kleinseite." "How could you then have surrendered it ?" "It could have been managed." It was now the Jew's turn to pause and hesitate.

In the general conclusion to which his mind had come, he was not far wrong.