Blind beggars and feeble cripples who could not see or stir shouted hideous oaths at Israel from the back of the crowd.
As the procession went past the gates of the Mellah, two companies came out into the town.The one was a company of soldiers returning to the Kasbah after sacking and wrecking Israel's house;the other was a company of old Jews, among whom were Reuben Maliki, Abraham Pigman, and Judah ben Lolo.At the advent of the three usurers a new impulse seized the people.They pretended to take the procession for a triumphal progress--the departure of a Kaid, a Shereef, a Sultan.
The soldier and police fell into the humour of the multitude.
Salaams were made to Israel; selhams were flung on the ground before the feet of Naomi.Reuben Maliki pushed through the crowd, and walked backward, and cried, in his harsh, nasal croak--"Brothers of Tetuan, behold your benefactor! Make way for him!
Make way! make way!"
Then there were loud guffaws, and oaths, and cries like the cry of the hyena.Last of all, old Abraham Pigman handed over the people's heads a huge green Spanish umbrella to a negro farrier that walked within; and the black fellow, showing his white teeth in a wide grim, held it over Israel's head.
Then from fifty rasping throats came mocking cries.
"God bless our Lord!"
"Saviour of his people!"
"Benefactor! King of men!"
And over and between these cries came shrieks and yells of laughter.
All this time Israel had sat motionless on his ass, neither showing humiliation nor fear.His face was worn and ashy, but his eyes burned with a piteous fire.He looked up and saw everything; saw himself mocked by the soldier and the crier, insulted by the Muslimeen, derided by the Jews, spat upon and smitten by the people whose hungry mouths he had fed with bread.Above all, he saw Naomi going before him in her shame, and at that sight his heart bled and his spirit burred.