Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/32

18 18 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.

"Good afternoon all," said the Schnorrer courteously.

" One moment," called out the philanthropist, when he found his tongue. "The bag is not empty — there are a number of packets still left in it."

" So much the better ! " said Manasseh soothingly. " You will be saved from the temptation to continue shedding the blood of the poor, and I shall be saved from spending all your bounty upon salmon — an extravagance you were right to deplore."

" But — but ! " began Grobstock.

"No — no ' buts, ' " protested Manasseh, waving his bag deprecatingly. " You were right. You admitted you were wrong before; shall I be less magnanimous now? In the presence of all these witnesses I acknowledge the justice of your rebuke. I ought not to have wasted two guineas on one fish. It was not worth it. Come over here, and I will tell you something." He walked out of earshot of the by- standers, turning down a side alley opposite the stall, and beckoned with his salmon bag. The East India Director had no course but to obey. He would probably have followed him in any case, to have it out with him, but now he had a humiliating sense of being at the Schnorrer 's beck and call.

"Well, what more have you to say?" he demanded gruffly.

"I wish to save you money in future," said the beggar in low, confidential tones. " That Jonathan is a son of the separation ! The salmon is not worth two guineas — no, on my soul ! If you had not come up I should have got it for twenty-five shillings. Jonathan stuck on the price when he thought you would buy. I trust you will not let me be the loser by your arrival, and that if I should find less than seventeen shillings in the bag you will make it up to me."