"Ah, I was there, Major," said the tailor. "It was bully. But the house was so full of generals and colonels you could hardly hear a word." "Fortunately for me," laughed Noah. "Yes, I asked them to come in full uniform for the _éclat_ of the occasion. Which reminds me--here is a ticket for you." "For the play?" murmured Peloni, as he took it. Noah started and looked at him keenly. But his flush of anger faded before Peloni's innocent eyes. "No, no," he explained; "for the opening ceremony of the foundation of Ararat." Peloni's black eyes shone. "There will be a great crush and only ticket-holders can be admitted into the church." "Into the church!" echoed Peloni, paling. "Yes," said the Judge of Israel impressively, as he stood before a glass to adjust the graceful folds of his crimson robe. "Our fellow-citizens in Buffalo have been good enough to lend us the Episcopal Church for the ceremony." "What ceremony?" he faltered, as horrid images swept before him, and he heard all the way from Frankfort the taunting cry of "Missionary!" "The laying of the foundation-stone of Ararat." "Laying the foundation-stone in a church!" Peloni was puzzled. "Ah," said the Major, misunderstanding him; "it seems strange to you, nursed in the musty lap of Europe. But here in this land of freedom and this century of enlightenment all men are brothers." "But surely the foundation-stone should be laid on Grand Island." "It would have been desirable. But so many will wish to be present at this great celebration. Buffalo alone has some thirteen hundred inhabitants. How should we get them across? There are scarcely any boats to be had--and Ararat is twelve miles away. No, no, it is better to hold our ceremony in Buffalo. It is, after all, only a symbolism. The corner-stone is already being inscribed in Hebrew and English. 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God. Ararat, a City of Refuge for the Jews, founded by Mordecai M. Noah in the month Tishri, corresponding with September, 1825, in the fiftieth year of American Independence.'" The sonorous recitation by the _Shophet_ in his crimson and ermine robe somewhat restored Peloni's equanimity. "But when will the actual city be begun?" he asked. The _Shophet_ waved his hand airily. "A matter of days." "But are you sure we can build there?" "Look at the map. Here is Grand Island--ours! Here is the site of Ararat. It is all as plain as a pikestaff. And, talking of pikestaffs, it would not be a bad idea to plant a staff on Ararat with the flag of Israel." Peloni took fire: "Yes, yes, let me go and plant it. I'll journey night and day." "You shall plant it," said the _Shophet_ graciously. "Yes, I'll have the flag made at once. The property man at the Park Theatre will attend to it for me. The Lion of Judah and seven stars." "It shall be waving on Grand Island before you open the celebration in Buffalo."