THE KING OF SCHNORRERS. 101
" But against that you must reckon that since the Rabbi had already invited one person, he couldn't be so hard to tackle as I had fancied."
" Oh, but you must not judge from yourself," protested Yankele " You be not a Schnorrer — you be a miracle."
" But I should like a miracle for my son-in-law also," grumbled the King.
" And if you had to schnorr a son-in-law, you vould get a miracle," said Yankele soothingly. " As he has to schnorr you, he gets the miracle."
" True," observed Manasseh musingly, " and I think you might therefore be very well content without the dowry."
"So I might," admitted Yankele, " only you vould not be content to break your promise. I suppose I shall have some of de dowry on de marriage morning."
" On that morning you shall get my daughter — without fail. Surely that will be enough for one day ! "
" Veil, ven do I get de money your daughter gets from de Synagogue?"
" When she gets it from the Synagogue, of course."
" How much vill it be ? "
" It may be a hundred and fifty pounds," said Manasseh pompously.
Yankele's eyes sparkled.
" And it may be less," added Manasseh as an after-thought.
"How much less?" enquired Yankele anxiously.
" A hundred and fifty pounds," repeated Manasseh pom- pously.
" D'you mean to say I may get noting? "
" Certainly, if she gets nothing. What I promised you was the money she gets from the Synagogue. Should she be fortunate enough in the sorteo — "
"Desorteo/ Vatisdat?"
