Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/117

103 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS. 103

" To a true Jew a casket of Jerusalem earth is worth all the diamonds in the world."

"But your Jerusalem property is a fraud!" gasped Yankele.

"Oh, no, you may be easy on that point. It's quite genuine. I know there is a good deal of spurious Palestine earth in circulation, and that many a dead man who has clods of it thrown into his tomb is nevertheless buried in unholy soil. But this casket I was careful to obtain from a Rabbi of extreme sanctity. It was the only thing he had worth sch nor ring. ' '

" I don't suppose I shall get more dan a crown for it," said Yankele, with irrepressible indignation.

"That's what I say," returned Manasseh; "and never did I think a son-in-law of mine would meditate selling my holy soil for a paltry five shillings ! I will not withdraw my promise, but I am disappointed in you — bitterly disap- pointed. Had I known this earth was not to cover your bones, it should have gone down to the grave with me, as enjoined in my last will and testament, by the side of which it stands in my safe."

" Very veil, I von't sell it," said Yankele sulkily.

" You relieve my soul. As the Mishnah says, ' He who marries a wife for money begets froward children.' "

" And vat about de province in England ? " asked Yankele^ in low, despondent tones. He had never believed in that, but now, behind all his despair and incredulity, was a vague hope that something might yet be saved from the crash.

"Oh, you shall choose your own," replied Manasseh graciously. " We will get a large map of London, and I will mark off in red pencil the domain in which I schnorr. You will then choose any district in this — say, two main streets