'Impudence-face! Would you become a jewellery shop?' the baffled _Shadchan_ shrieked through the woodwork. He returned to Elias, brooding darkly. 'Well?' queried Elias. 'O, your love matches!' And Sugarman shook them away with shuddersome palms. 'Then she won't----' 'No, she won't. Ah, how blessed you are to escape from that daughter of Satan! The greengrocer's daughter now----' 'Speak me no more matches. I risk no more rings.' 'I will get you one on the hire system.' 'A maiden?' 'Guard your tongue! A ring, of course.' Elias shook an obdurate head. 'No. I must have the old ring back.' 'That is impossible--unless you marry her to get it back. Stay! Why should I not arrange that for you?' 'Leave me in peace! Heaven has opened my eyes.' 'Then see how economical she is!' urged Sugarman. 'A maiden who sticks to a ring like that is not likely to be wasteful of your substance.' 'You have not seen her swallow "stuffed monkeys,"' said Elias grimly. 'Make an end! I have done with her.' 'No, you have not! You can still give yourself a counsel.' And Sugarman looked a conscious sphinx. 'You may yet get back the ring.' 'How?' 'Of course, I have the next disposal of it?' said Sugarman. 'Yes, yes. Go on.' 'To-morrow in the workshop pretend to steal loving glances all day long when she's not looking. When she catches you----' 'But she won't be looking!' 'Oh, yes, she will. When she catches you, you must blush.' 'But I can't blush at will,' Elias protested. 'I know it is hard. Well, look foolish. That will be easier for you.' 'But why shall I look foolish?' 'To make her think you are in love with her after all.' 'I should look foolish if I were.' 'Precisely. That is the idea. When she leaves the workshop in the evening follow her, and as she passes the cake-shop, sigh and ask her if she will not eat a "stuffed monkey" for the sake of peace-be-upon-him times.' 'But she won't.' 'Why not? She is still in love.' 'With stuffed monkeys,' said Elias cynically. 'With you, too.' Elias blushed quite easily. 'How do you know?' 'I offered her another man, and she slammed the door in my face!' 'You--you offered----' Elias stuttered angrily. 'Only to test her,' said Sugarman soothingly. He continued: 'Now, when she has eaten the cake and drunk a cup of chocolate, too (for one must play high with such a ring at stake), you must walk on by her side, and when you come to a dark corner, take her hand and say "My treasure" or "My angel," or whatever nonsense you modern young men babble to your maidens--with the results you see!--and while she is drinking it all in like more chocolate, her fingers in yours, give a sudden tug, and off comes the ring!' Elias gazed at him in admiration. 'You are as crafty as Jacob, our father.' 'Heaven has not denied everybody brains,' replied Sugarman modestly. 'Be careful to seize the left hand.' The admiring Elias followed the scheme to the letter.