"Who?" asked the little man in amazement, putting his hand up to his ear and bending forward the better to hear my answer. "Well, I mean Rachel Welt, the fat butcher's daughter." "Do you ask if she is to be there?" cried the Marschallik, pathetically. "Is it reasonable to suppose that any one would invite all the ugly girls in Barnow and leave out the most beautiful? Take my word for it, young sir, Sprinze Klein and I know how to act on such occasions; and it is an acknowledged thing that when you invite young men to a party, you ought to have some pretty girls to meet them. Besides that, we know that we needn't deck out a room with flowers when Rachel is there, for she is the loveliest flower I ever saw; and that's as true as that God blesses my undertakings! "The loveliest flower," he repeated; "and so you will come, won't you?--you and your friend Aaronleben--pardon me for calling him that; for how can I call him Adolf, when I often had him in my arms when he was a little child, and his mother, Chane, was my own sister's daughter? You'll come now, and prevent the people in Barnow saying of the old Marschallik--'He's only fit to invite common Jews, the uneducated folk of the town; he's no good at all where young gentlemen are concerned!'" I could not help laughing. "All right," I said, "make your mind easy as regards me. But whether Adolf will go or not is a different question; I don't think he will. However, you'd better come back to-morrow and hear what he says." The little man once more raised his hands in the air, bowing low at the same time; after which, he trotted out of the room with a broad smile upon his face. I was convinced that I should have to go alone. And, indeed, when I told Adolf of the invitation, he answered testily: "Say no more. I'll follow you to hell if you like, but not to these people!" "What a pity!" I said. "It would have been such a good opportunity for you to have made an interesting study of the character of--our hostess, Frau Sprinze Klein. You don't know her. She was born at Brzezan, and is now a very rich widow. She keeps a haberdasher's shop." "Very interesting," he replied, scornfully.