He said to me: 'My pearl, my turtledove, my diamond, see here, I place this ring on your finger and swear to be true to you.

But I can't marry you as long as that other woman lives who wears my betrothal ring, for our laws forbid it.

That woman dwells in the big house at Toroczko.

You know her name and know what to do to enable me to marry you.'" Manasseh trembled with suppressed passion as he listened.

The girl handed him the ring and proceeded: "Give her back her ring; it belongs to her.