'Married men don't go shooting so lightheartedly. Come, let me take you in hand; my commission is a very small percentage of the dowry.' 'Ah, so you're a regular _Shadchan_' (marriage-broker). 'And how else should I live? Do you think I get fat on this inn? But people stay here from all towns around; I get to know a great circle of marriageable parties. I can show you a much larger stock than the ordinary _Shadchan_.' 'But I am so _link_' (irreligious). '_Nu!_ Let your ear-locks grow--the dowry grows with them.' Mine host had quite recovered his greasy familiarity. 'I can't wait for my locks to grow,' said David, with a sudden thought. 'But if you care to introduce me to Tinowitz, you will not fail to profit by it, if the thing turns out well.' The landlord rubbed his hands. 'Now you speak like a sage.' III Tinowitz read the landlord's Hebrew note, and surveyed the suitor disapprovingly. And disapproval did not improve his face--a face in whose grotesque features David read a possible explanation of his surplus stock of daughters. 'I cannot say I am very taken with you,' the corn-factor said. 'Nor is it possible to give you my youngest daughter. I have other plans. Even the eldest----' David waved his hand. 'I told my landlord as much. Am I a Talmud-sage that I should thus aspire? Forgive and forget my _Chutzpah_ (impudence)!' 'But the eldest--perhaps--with a smaller dowry----' 'To tell the truth, _Panie_ Tinowitz, it was the landlord who turned my head with false hopes. I came here not to promote marriages, but to prevent funerals!' The corn-factor gasped, 'Funerals!' 'A _pogrom_ is threatened----' 'Open not your mouth to Satan!' reprimanded Tinowitz, growing livid. 'If you prefer silence and slaughter----' said David, with a shrug. 'It is impossible--here!' 'And why not here, as well as in the six hundred and thirty-eight other towns?' 'In those towns there must have been bad blood; here Jew and Russian live together like brothers.' 'Cain and Abel were brothers. There were many peaceful years while Cain tilled the ground and Abel pastured his sheep.' The Biblical reference was more convincing to Tinowitz than a wilderness of arguments. 'Then, what do you propose?' came from his white lips. 'To form a branch of the _Samooborona_. You must first summon a meeting of householders.' 'What for?' 'For a general committee--and for the expenses.' 'But how can we hold a meeting? The police----' 'There's the synagogue.' 'Profane the synagogue!' 'Did not the Jews always fly to the synagogue when there was danger?' 'Yes, but to pray.' 'We will pray by pistol.' 'Guard your tongue!' 'Guard your daughters.' 'The Uppermost will guard them.' 'The Uppermost guards them through me, as He feeds them through you. For the last time I ask you, will you or will you not summon me a meeting of householders?' 'You rush like a wild horse. I thank Heaven you will _not_ be my son-in-law.'