Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/116

102 102 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.

" The dowry I told you of. It is accorded by lot. My daughter has as good a chance as any other maiden. By winning her you stand to win a hundred and fifty pounds. It is a handsome amount. There are not many fathers who would do as much for their daughters," concluded Manasseh with conscious magnanimity.

" But about de Jerusalem estate ! " said Yankele, shifting his standpoint. " I don't vant to go and live dere. De Messiah is not yet come."

"No, you will hardly be able to live on it," admitted Manasseh.

" You do not object to my selling it, den? "

" Oh, no ! If you are so sordid, if you have no true Jewish sentiment ! "

" Ven can I come into possession? "

"On the wedding day if you like."

" One may as veil get it over," said Yankele, suppressing a desire to rub his hands in glee. " As de Talmud says, ' One peppercorn to-day is better dan a basketful of pump- kins to-morrow.' "

" All right ! I will bring it to the Synagogue."

" Bring it to de Synagogue ! " repeated Yankele" in amaze. " Oh, you mean de deed of transfer."

" The deed of transfer ! Do you think I waste my sub- stance on solicitors? No, I will bring the property itself."

" But how can you do dat? "

"Where is the difficulty?" demanded Manasseh with withering contempt. " Surely a child could carry a casket of Jerusalem earth to Synagogue ! "

" A casket of earth ! Is your property in Jerusalem only a casket of earth?"

"What then? You didn't expect it would be a casket of diamonds?" retorted Manasseh, with gathering wrath.