"Being of such a nature," observed Aaron, "would it not have been better that it should be arranged privately between the parties interested instead of through an intermediary?" "Possibly, possibly, but my client holds strong views, and feels he could scarcely trust himself." "Favor me with the name of your client." "Lord Storndale." "Lord Storndale? I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance." "But you are familiar with his name?" "Not at all. It is the first time I have heard it." "You surprise me. Lord Storndale is a peer." "I know very few peers, and have had no occasion to study the peerage." "But, pardon me, Storndale is the name; it may have escaped you." "I repeat, the name is strange to me." "I do not presume to doubt you, but it introduces a new element into the matter. Your daughter, then, has never mentioned the Honorable Percy Storndale to you?" "Never; and I am at a loss to understand the association of their names." The lawyer paused. In this unexpected turn of affairs a deviation suggested itself to his legal mind which would be likely to assist him. "Mr. Cohen, you have the reputation of being an earnest and sincere Jew." "I follow the precepts and the obligations of my faith," said Aaron, with a searching glance at his visitor. "In this backsliding and time-serving age orthodoxy--especially, I should say, in the Jewish religion--has a hard time of it. The customs and duties of an enlightened civilization must clash severely with the precepts and obligations you speak of. It is because of the difficulty--perhaps the impossibility--of following the hard and fast laws of the Pentateuch that divisions have taken place, as with all religions, and that you have among you men who call themselves Reformed Jews." "Surely it is not part of your mission to discuss this matter with me," said Aaron, who had no desire to enter into such questions with a stranger. "No, it is not, and I do not pretend to understand it; but in a general way the subject is interesting to me. If you will permit me, I should like to ask you one question." Aaron signified assent. "What is your opinion of mixed marriages?" Aaron did not answer immediately; he had a suspicion that there was something behind, but the subject was one regarding which both he and Rachel held a strong view, and he felt he would be guilty of an unworthy evasion if he refused to reply. "I do not approve of them," he said.