Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/164

150 150 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.

and 'prentices and students swaggered in to abuse the Ministers, and all kinds of men from bloods to barristers loitered to pick up hints to easy riches. Manasseh detected his quarry in the furthermost box, his face hidden behind a broadsheet.

" Why do you always come to me?" muttered the East India Director helplessly.

"Eh?" said Manasseh, mistrustful of his own ears. "I beg your pardon."

" If your own community cannot support you," said Grobstock, more loudly, and with all the boldness of an animal driven to bay, " why not go to Abraham Goldsmid, or his brother Ben, or to Van Oven, or Oppenheim — they're all more prosperous than I."

" Sir ! " said Manasseh wrathfully. " You are a skilful — nay, a famous, financier. You know what stocks to buy, what stocks to sell, when to follow a rise, and when a fall. When the Premier advertises the loans, a thousand specula- tors look to you for guidance. What would you say if / presumed to interfere in your financial affairs — if I told you to issue these shares or to call in those? You would tell me to mind my own business ; and you would be perfectly right. Now Schnorring is my business. Trust me, I know best whom to come to. You stick to stocks and leave Schnorring alone. You are the King of Financiers, but I am the King of Schnorrers."

Grobstock's resentment at the rejoinder was mitigated by the compliment to his financial insight. To be put on the same level with the Beggar was indeed unexpected.

" Will you have a cup of coffee? " he said.

" I ought scarcely to drink with you after your reception of me," replied Manasseh unappeased. " It is not even as if I came to schnorr for myself; it is to the finances