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138 138 THE KING OF SCHXORRERS.

" A hundred pounds ! "

"A hundred pounds!" echoed the President, seriously concerned at this blot upon his year of office. " And who is the debtor?"

" I am."

" You ! You have borrowed a hundred pounds, you — you jackanapes ! "

"Silence, sir! How dare you? I should leave this apartment at once, were it not that I cannot go without your apology. Never in my life have I borrowed a hundred pounds — nay, never have I borrowed one farthing. I am no borrower. If you are a gentleman, you will apologise ! "

" I am sorry if I misunderstood," murmured the poor President, " but how, then, do you owe the money? "

"How, then?" repeated Manasseh impatiently. "Can- not you understand that I have donated it to the Syna- gogue? "

The President stared at him open-mouthed.

" I vowed it yesterday in celebration of my daughter's marriage."

The President let a sigh of relief pass through his open mouth. He was even amused a little.

"Oh, is that all? It was like your deuced effrontery; but still, the Synagogue doesn't lose anything. There's no harm done."

" What is that you say?" enquired Manasseh sternly. " Do you mean to say I am not to pay this money? "

" How can you? "

" How can I ? I come to you and others like you to pay it for me."

" Nonsense ! Nonsense ! " said the President, begin- ning to lose his temper again. " We'll let it pass. There's no harm done."