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 !
