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101 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS. 101

" But against that you must reckon that since the Rabbi had already invited one person, he couldn't be so hard to tackle as I had fancied."

" Oh, but you must not judge from yourself," protested Yankele " You be not a Schnorrer — you be a miracle."

" But I should like a miracle for my son-in-law also," grumbled the King.

" And if you had to schnorr a son-in-law, you vould get a miracle," said Yankele soothingly. " As he has to schnorr you, he gets the miracle."

" True," observed Manasseh musingly, " and I think you might therefore be very well content without the dowry."

"So I might," admitted Yankele, " only you vould not be content to break your promise. I suppose I shall have some of de dowry on de marriage morning."

" On that morning you shall get my daughter — without fail. Surely that will be enough for one day ! "

" Veil, ven do I get de money your daughter gets from de Synagogue?"

" When she gets it from the Synagogue, of course."

" How much vill it be ? "

" It may be a hundred and fifty pounds," said Manasseh pompously.

Yankele's eyes sparkled.

" And it may be less," added Manasseh as an after-thought.

"How much less?" enquired Yankele anxiously.

" A hundred and fifty pounds," repeated Manasseh pom- pously.

" D'you mean to say I may get noting? "

" Certainly, if she gets nothing. What I promised you was the money she gets from the Synagogue. Should she be fortunate enough in the sorteo — "

"Desorteo/ Vatisdat?"