THE KING OF SCHNORRERS. 47
" Oh, that ! It was delicious. I am sure it was very kind of you, Mr. da Costa, to make us such a nice present," said the hostess, her resentment diminishing. " We had company last night, and everybody praised it till none was left. This is another, but I hope it is to your liking," she finished anxiously.
"Yes, it's very fair, very fair, indeed. I don't know when I've tasted better, except at the house of the President of the Deputados. But Yankele" here is a connoisseur in fish, not easy to please. What say you, Yankele?"
Yankele munched a muffled approval.
" Help yourself to more bread and butter, Yankele," said Manasseh. "Make yourself at home — remember you're my guest." Silently he added : "The other fork ! "
Grobstock's irritation found vent in a complaint that the salad wanted vinegar.
"How can you say so? It's perfect," said Mrs. Grob- stock. " Salad is cook's speciality."
Manasseh tasted it critically. " On salads you must come to me," he said. " It does not want vinegar," was his ver- dict ; " but a little more oil would certainly improve it. Oh, there is no one dresses salad like Hyman ! "
Hyman's fame as the Kosher chef who superintended the big dinners at the London Tavern had reached Mrs. Grobstock's ears, and she was proportionately im- pressed.
" They say his pastry is so good," she observed, to be in the running.
" Yes," said Manasseh, " in kneading and puffing he stands alone."
" Our cook's tarts are quite as nice," said Grobstock roughly.
"We shall see," Manasseh replied guardedly. "Though,
