'Yes, you. To mix up religion with the almanac. People who find that your Sabbath wall shuts them out of all public life and all professions, just go outside it altogether, and think themselves outside the gates of Judaism. If my father--peace be upon him--hadn't had your narrow notions, I should have gone to the Bar instead of being condemned to shop-keeping.' 'You are a very good devil's advocate now,' retorted the minister. Simeon Samuels stroked his beard. 'Thank you. And I congratulate _your_ client.' 'You are an _Epikouros_ (Epicurean), and I am wasting my time.' 'And mine too.' The minister strode into the shop. At the street-door he turned. 'Then you persist in setting a bad example?' 'A bad example! To whom? To your godly congregation? Considering every other shop in the town is open on _Shabbos_, one more or less can't upset them.' 'When it is the only Jewish shop! Are you aware, sir, that every other Jew in Sudminster closes rigorously on the Sabbath?' 'I ascertained that before I settled here,' said Simeon Samuels quietly. XI The report of the pastor's collapse produced an emergency meeting of the leading sheep. The mid-day dinner-hour was chosen as the slackest. A babble of suggestions filled the _Parnass's_ parlour. Solomon Barzinsky kept sternly repeating his _Delenda est Carthago_: 'He must be expelled from the congregation.' 'He should be expelled from the town altogether,' said Mendel. 'As it is written: "And remove Satan from before and behind us."' 'Since when have we owned Sudminster?' sneered the _Parnass_. 'You might as well talk of expelling the Mayor and the Corporation.' 'I didn't mean by Act of Parliament,' said Mendel. 'We could make his life a torture.' 'And meantime he makes yours a torture. No, no, the only way is to appeal to his soul----' 'May it be an atonement for us all!' interrupted Peleg the pawnbroker. 'We must beg him not to destroy religion,' repeated the _Parnass_. 'I thought Mr. Gabriel had done that,' said the _Gabbai_. 'He is only a minister. He has no worldly tact.' 'Then, why don't _you_ go?' said Solomon Barzinsky. 'I have too much worldly tact. The President's visit might seem like an appeal to authority. It would set up his bristles. Besides, there wouldn't be me left to appeal to. The congregation must keep some trump up its sleeve. No, a mere plain member must go, a simple brother in Israel, to talk to him, heart to heart. You, Barzinsky, are the very man.' 'No, no, I'm not such a simple brother as all that. I'm in the same line, and he might take it for trade jealousy.' 'Then Peleg must go.' 'No, no, I'm not worthy to be the _Sheliach Tzibbur_!' (envoy of the congregation). The _Parnass_ reassured him as to his merits. 'The congregation could not have a worthier envoy.' 'But I can't leave my business.' 'You, with your fine grown-up daughters!' cried Barzinsky. 'Don't beshrew them--I will go at once.'