Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/95

81 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS. 81

out the shilling at Lazarus's shop. Still a really great miser would have added that cracked shilling to his hoard rather than the perfect penny."

" No," argued Yankele, " dere vould be no difference, since he does not spend."

"True," said da Costa reflectively, "but by that same token a miser is not the most difficult person to tackle."

" How do you make dat out? "

" Is it not obvious ? Already we see Lazarus giving away elevenpence. A miser who spends nothing on himself may, in exceptional cases, be induced to give away something. It is the man who indulges himself in every luxury and gives away nothing who is the hardest to schnorr from. He has a use for his money — himself ! If you diminish his store you hurt him in the tenderest part — you rob him of creature comforts. To schnorr from such a one I should regard as a higher and nobler thing than to schnorr from a mere miser."

" Veil, name your man."

"No — I couldn't think of taking it out of your hands," said Manasseh again with his stately bow. " Whomever you select I will abide by. If I could not rely on your honour, would I dream of you as a son-in-law? " I vill go to Mendel Jacobs, of Mary Axe."

" Mendel Jacobs — oh, no ! Why, he's married ! A mar- ried man cannot be entirely devoted to himself."

" Vy not ? Is not a vife a creature comfort ? P'raps also she comes cheaper dan a housekeeper."

" We will not argue it. I will not have Mendel Jacobs."

"Simon Kelutski, de vine-merchant."

" He ! He is quite generous with his snuff-box. I have myself been offered a pinch. Of course I did not accept it."

Yankele selected several other names, but Manasseh