Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/168

154 154 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.

Grobstock flushed in silent humiliation. Manasseh rose.

Grobstock's fatal strain of weakness gave him a twinge of compunction at the eleventh hour.

" You see for yourself how unreasonable your request was," he murmured.

" Do not strive to justify yourself, I am done with you," said Manasseh. " I am done with you as a philanthropist. For the future you may besnuff and bespatter your coat as much as you please, for all the trouble I shall ever take. As a financier, I still respect you, and may yet come to you, but as a philanthropist, never."

"Anything I can do — " muttered Grobstock vaguely.

" Let me see ! " said Manasseh, looking down upon him thoughtfully. " Ah, yes, an idea ! I have collected over sixty pounds. If you would invest this for me — ' :

" Certainly, certainly," interrupted Grobstock, with con- ciliatory eagerness.

" Good ! With your unrivalled knowledge of the markets, you could easily bring it up to the necessary sum in a day or two. Perhaps even there is some grand coup on the tapis, something to be bulled or beared in which you have a hand."

Grobstock nodded his head vaguely. He had already remembered that the proceeding was considerably below his dignity ; he was not a stockbroker, never had he done anything of the kind for anyone.

" But suppose I lose it all? " he asked, trying to draw back.

" Impossible," said the Scluwrrer serenely. " Do you forget it is a Synagogue fund ? Do you think the Almighty will suffer His money to be lost?"

"Then why not speculate yourself?" said Grobstock craftily.

" The Almighty's honour must be guarded. What !