Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/69

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THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.
55


Besides, consider his occupation ! You vould not advise dat I marry into such a low family ! Be you not my bene- factor?"

"Well, but I cannot think of any good-looking girl that would be suitable."

Yankele looked at him with a roguish, insinuating smile. " Say not dat ! Have you not told Grobstock you be de first of marriage-brokers?"

But Manasseh shook his head.

" No, you be quite right," said Yankele humbly ; " I could not get a really beaudiful girl unless I married your Deborah herself."

"No, I am afraid not," said Manasseh sympathetically.

Yankele took the plunge.

"Ah, vy can I not hope to call you fader-in-law?"

Manasseh's face was contorted by a spasm of astonish- ment and indignation. He came to a standstill.

"Dat must be a fine piece," said Yankele quickly, indi- cating a flamboyant picture of a fearsome phantom hovering over a sombre moat.

They had arrived at Leman Street, and had stopped be- fore Goodman's Fields Theatre. Manasseh's brow cleared.

"It is The Castle Spectre" he said graciously. "Would you like to see it?"

"But it is half over — "

"Oh, no," said da Costa, scanning the play bill. "There was a farce by O'Keefe to start with. The night is yet young. The drama will be just beginning."

"But it is de Sabbath — ve must not pay."

Manasseh's brow clouded again in wrathful righteous sur- prise. "Did you think I was going to pay?" he gasped.

"N-n-no," stammered the Pole, abashed. "But you haven't got no orders?"