"No--I couldn't think of taking it out of your hands," said Manasseh again with his stately bow. "Whomever you select I will abide by. If I could not rely on your honour, would I dream of you as a son-in-law?" "Den I vill go to Mendel Jacobs, of Mary Axe." "Mendel Jacobs--oh, no! Why, he's married! A married man cannot be entirely devoted to himself." "Vy not? Is not a vife a creature comfort? P'raps also she comes cheaper dan a housekeeper." "We will not argue it. I will not have Mendel Jacobs." "Simon Kelutski, de vine-merchant." "He! He is quite generous with his snuff-box. I have myself been offered a pinch. Of course I did not accept it." Yankelé selected several other names, but Manasseh barred them all, and at last had an inspiration of his own. "Isn't there a Rabbi in your community whose stinginess is proverbial? Let me see, what's his name?" "A Rabbi!" murmured Yankelé disingenuously, while his heart began to palpitate with alarm. "Yes, isn't there--Rabbi Bloater!" Yankelé shook his head. Ruin stared him in the face--his fondest hopes were crumbling. "I know it's some fishy name--Rabbi Haddock--no it isn't. It's Rabbi Remorse something." Yankelé saw it was all over with him. "P'raps you mean Rabbi Remorse Red-herring," he said feebly, for his voice failed him. "Ah, yes! Rabbi Remorse Red-herring," said Manasseh. "From all I hear--for I have never seen the man--a king of guzzlers and topers, and the meanest of mankind. Now if you could dine with _him_ you might indeed be called a king of _Schnorrers_." Yankelé was pale and trembling. "But _he_ is married!" he urged, with a happy thought. [Illustration: "THE TREMBLING JEW."] "Dine with him to-morrow," said Manasseh inexorably. "He fares extra royally on the Sabbath. Obtain admission to his table, and you shall be admitted into my family." "But you do not know the man--it is impossible!" cried Yankelé. "That is the excuse of the bad _Schnorrer_. You have heard my ultimatum. No dinner, no wife. No wife--no dowry!" "Vat vould dis dowry be?" asked Yankelé, by way of diversion. "Oh, unique--quite unique. First of all there would be all the money she gets from the Synagogue. Our Synagogue gives considerable dowries to portionless girls. There are large bequests for the purpose." Yankelé's eyes glittered. "Ah, vat gentlemen you Spaniards be!" "Then I daresay I should hand over to my son-in-law all my Jerusalem land." "Have you property in de Holy Land?" said Yankelé. "First class, with an unquestionable title. And, of course, I would give you some province or other in this country." "What!" gasped Yankelé. "Could I do less?" said Manasseh blandly. "My own flesh and blood, remember! Ah, here is my door. It is too late to ask you in. Good Sabbath! Don't forget your appointment to dine with Rabbi Remorse Red-herring to-morrow."