What about Naum? He has long been ill, you know it, and death upon a soft bed is not worse than death upon the pavement. And perhaps he will live yet, he will live yet (_cries._) David, Abraham Khessin and Sonka's girl are waiting for you in the yard. DAVID. _Morosely._ What do they want, money? Sarah, give them a few pennies and let them go. SARAH. In the end they will draw out all the money we have, Nullius. I have given to Khessin twice already. He is like sand,--no matter how much water you pour into it, it is always dry and greedy. DAVID. Nonsense! we have too much money, Sarah. But it pains me to look at the people, Nullius. Since the time when you brought us this fortune-- ANATHEMA. Which you earned by your sufferings, Leizer. DAVID. Since that time, the people have changed so much for the worse. You like to have the people bow to you very low, Nullius? I do not like it--human beings are not dogs that they should crawl on their bellies. And you like to have the people tell you, Nullius, that you are the wisest, the most magnanimous, the best of all living beings--whereas you are only an ordinary old Jew, like many another Jew. I do not like it, Nullius,--for the sons of the God of truth and mercy it is unbecoming to lie, even while dying of the cruelties of truth. ANATHEMA. _Thoughtfully._ Riches are a terrible power, Leizer. No one asks you where your money came from; they see your might and they worship it. DAVID. Might? And Naum? And I, Nullius? Can I buy for all the money even a single day of health and life? ANATHEMA. You look considerably fresher now. DAVID. _Smiling gloomily._ Yes? Should I, perhaps, also engage a dancing-master? What do you advise me, Nullius? SARAH. Don't forget Rosa, father. Is it not a great sin against God to hide the beauty of the face? It is given as a joy and a pleasure to the eyes; God Himself reveals His beauty in a beautiful face, and did we not lift our hands against God Himself when we stained our Rosa's face with coal and soot, when we made her terrible and sorrowful to look upon? DAVID. Beauty is withering. Everything is dying, Sarah. SARAH. But the lily also withers, and the narcissus dies, the petals of the yellow rose fall apart--would you, David, trample all flowers under foot and heap abuse upon the yellow rose? Do not doubt, David,--the God of righteousness has given you riches--will you who were so firm in misfortune that you did not blaspheme God even once--will you grow weak in your happiness? ANATHEMA. You are perfectly right, madam Leizer. Rosa has so many suitors that all she needs is to choose. DAVID. _Rising angrily._ I will not give Rosa to any of them. SARAH. Why not, David? DAVID. I will not give Rosa to any of them. They are like dogs that want to eat out of the golden bowl--I will drive the dogs away.