Page:The way of Martha and the way of Mary (1915).djvu/86

64 Anthem in honour of our adored monarch. The National Anthem!"

"Anthem, Anthem," cried his mates.

"No Anthems whatsoever," said Sasha, repeating the words of the police-officer.

"What do you mean, you don't obey, you filthy Jew?" answered the man.

"And you?" said Sasha.

"I? What do you mean?"

"I'm a filthy Jew. All right, what are you?"

"I'm Orthodox."

"Orthodox! And for how much?"

The whole tavern laughed.

"Brothers," said the ruffian, "shall we stand the blasphemy of this Jew against Throne and Church any longer? . . ."

There was a rush at Sasha. But he jumped up, and lifting his fiddle in a rage, smashed it on the head of the first who came up to him.

So Sasha was arrested as a revolutionary, and once more he disappeared. This time every one thought he had gone for ever. It would have seemed proper to wear mourning for him. The tavern changed in atmosphere. In Sasha's place came another musician, one of those who had sat and listened to him in the old days and learned of him. One night, however, when they were playing the old tunes and the violin was gently crooning the song Expectancy, a voice from somewhere cried out nervously: