Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/104

90 90 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.

Yankele followed, exultant ; the outworks were already carried, and his heart beat high with hope. But at his first glance within, he reeled and almost fell.

Standing with his back to the fire and dominating the room was Manasseh Bueno Barzillai Azevedo da Costa !

" Ah, Yankele, good Sabbath ! " said da Costa affably.

" G-g-ood Sabbath ! " stammered Yankele.

" Why, you know each other ! " cried the Rabbi.

" Oh, yes," said Manasseh, " an acquaintance of yours, too, apparently."

" No, he is just come to see me about something," replied the Rabbi.

" I thought you did not know the Rabbi, Mr. da Costa?" Yankele" could not help saying.

" I didn't. I only had the pleasure of making his ac- quaintance half an hour ago. I met him in the street as he was coming home from morning service, and he was kind enough to invite me to dinner."

Yankele" gasped ; despite his secret amusement at Manas- seh's airs, there were moments when the easy magnificence of the man overwhelmed him, extorted his reluctant admi- ration. How in Heaven's name had the Spaniard conquered at a blow !

Looking down at the table, he now observed that it was already laid for dinner — and for three! He should have been that third. Was it fair of Manasseh to handicap him thus? Naturally, there would be infinitely less chance of a fourth being invited than a third — to say nothing of the dearth of provisions. " But, surely, you don't intend to stay to dinner ! " he complained in dismay.

" I have given my word," said Manasseh, "and I shouldn't care to disappoint the Rabbi."

" Oh, it's no disappointment, no disappointment," re-