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139 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS. 139

" And this is the President of the Mahamad ! " soliloquised the Schnorrer in bitter astonishment. "This is the chief of our ancient, godly Council ! What, sir ! Do you hold words spoken solemnly in Synagogue of no account? Would you have me break my solemn vow? Do you wish to bring the Synagogue institutions into contempt? Do you — a man already once stricken by Heaven — in- vite its chastisement again?"

The President had grown pale — his brain was reeling.

" Nay, ask its forgiveness, sir," went on the King implac- ably ; " and make good this debt of mine in token of your remorse, as it is written, ' And repentance, and prayer, and charity avert the evil decree.' "

"Not a penny !" cried the President, with a last gleam of lucidity, and strode furiously towards the bell-pull. Then he stood still in sudden recollection of a similar scene in the Council Chamber.

" You need not trouble to ring for a stroke," said Manas- seh grimly. "Then the Synagogue is to be profaned, then even the Benediction which I in all loyalty and forgive- ness caused to be said for the recovery of the President of the Mahamad is to be null, a mockery in the sight of the Holy One, blessed be He ! "

The President tottered into his reading-chair.

" How much did you vow on my behalf? "

" Five pounds."

The President precipitately drew out a pocket-book and extracted a crisp Bank of England note.

" Give it to the Chancellor," he breathed, exhausted.

" I am punished," quoth Manasseh plaintively as he placed it in his bosom. " I should have vowed ten for you." And he bowed himself out.

In like manner did he collect other contributions that