Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/324

310 310 A ROSE OF THE GHETTO.

Leibel's eyes lit up. There was really no reason why he should not have bread-and-cheese with his kisses.

" Now, if you went to her father," pursued the Shadchan, " the odds are that he would not even give you his daughter — to say nothing of the dowry. After all, it is a cheek of you to aspire so high. As you told me from the first, you haven't saved a penny. Even my commission you won't be able to pay till you get the dowry. But if / go, I do not despair of getting a substantial sum — to say nothing of the daughter."

" Yes, I think you had better go," said Leibel eagerly.

" But if I do this thing for you I shall want a pound more," rejoined Sugarman.

"A pound more ! " echoed Leibel, in dismay. "Why?"

" Because Rose Green's hump is of gold," replied Sugar- man oracularly. " Also, she is fair to see, and many men desire her."

" But you have always your five per cent on the dowry."

" It will be less than Volcovitch's," explained Sugarman. "You see, Green has other and less beautiful daughters."

"Yes; but then it settles itself more easily. Say five shillings."

" Eliphaz Green is a hard man," said the Shadchan instead.

"Ten shillings is the most I will give ! "

" Twelve and sixpence is the least I will take. Eliphaz Green haggles so terribly."

They split the difference, and so eleven and threepence represented the predominance of Eliphaz Green's stinginess over Volcovitch's.

The very next day Sugarman invaded the Green work- room. Rose bent over her seams, her heart fluttering. Leibel had duly apprised her of the roundabout manner in