Page:Meir Ezofovitch a novel, from the Polish of Eliza Orzeszko.djvu/225

Rh entered into the next, where Jochel stood near the stove staring absently at his bare toes.

Jankiel sent a malediction after the retreating figure. The two others were silent.

"Why did you bring us in such an unsafe place?" asked at last Kalman, in his even voice.

"Why did you not warn us that somebody might hear from the other side of the wall?" said Abram impetuously. Jankiel explained that it was his son's room who did not know anything about business and never paid the slightest attention to what was going on around him.

"How would I know that cursed lad was there; he must have entered like a thief, through the window. Well!" he said, after a while, "what does it matter if he heard? He is an Israelite, one of us, and dare not betray his own people."

"He may dare," repeated Kalman, "but we will keep an eye upon him, and if he as much as breathes a syllable of what he heard we will crush him."

Abram rose.

"You may do what you like," he said impulsively. "I wash my hands of the whole business."

Jankiel eyed him with a malicious expression."

"Very well," he said, "in that case, there will be all the more for us two. Those who risk will get the money." Abram sat down again. His nervous face betrayed the inward struggle. Jankiel, who had a piece of chalk in his hand, began writing on a black tablet,—

"Eight thousand gallons of spirit at four roubles the gallon makes thirty-two thousand roubles. These divided