“Speak?” echoed the rabbi, with the same inscrutable smile, and a scarcely perceptible shrug of the shoulders. “What is there to say?” “Say--say any thing. I don't care what you say,” Elias cried passionately. “Only, this silence--if you want to drive me crazy, keep it up. It makes me feel as if--as if my head would burst open.” He crushed his hands hard against his temples. “Go on. Speak. Curse me. Any thing. Only, don't sit there that way, as though you had been struck dumb.” “Come, come, Elias! Stop your bellowing. Stop storming about like that. Sit down--there, where you were before. Be quiet. Be rational. Then, if you wish, we can talk.” Elias dropped into his chair. “I'm quiet. I'm rational,” he groaned. “Go ahead.” “Well, really,” the rabbi submitted. “I don't see that there is much to be said.” “Not much to be said! For heaven's sake! Haven't you heard? Haven't you understood? Haven't I told you that I am going to marry a Christian?” “There's no need of screaming at me, Elias. Yes. I have understood. When--when was it your intention that this marriage should take place?” “To-morrow. It takes place to-morrow evening at half past eight o'clock.” “Indeed? So soon? Why have you waited so long about telling me? Or, having waited so long, why did you tell me at all?” “I don't know. Many reasons. I thought--” “Oh, well, it doesn't matter. It makes no difference,” the rabbi interrupted, and again relapsed into silence. “Well?” ventured Elias, interrogatively. “Well, what?” returned the rabbi. “Well, why don't you go on? Finish what you've got to say?” “I don't know that I have any thing more to say.” “Any thing _more!_ You haven't said any thing at all, as yet.” “Well, then, I don't know that I have any thing at all to say.” “Good God!” Elias broke out furiously. “You--you'll--what is the matter with you, any how? I tell you that I am going to marry a Christian; and you--you sit there--like--like I don't know what--and answer that you have nothing to say about it!” “Precisely; because, indeed, I _have_ nothing to say about it--except this, that the marriage will never take place. That's all.” “Never take place! I give it up. What in reason's name do you mean?” “I mean what I say.” “That we--she and I--are--are not going to get married, after all?” “Yes.” “But haven't I told you that our marriage comes off to-morrow night?” “Yes.” “Well?” “Well, you have told me so; but you are mistaken.” “Mistaken! I think you must have gone mad.” “Not in the least. The marriage won't come off to-morrow night, nor any other night.” “I should like to know what's to prevent it.” “It will be prevented.” “I don't just see how.” “Wait, and you _shall_ see.” “By whom? By you, for example? If so, by what means?” “Oh, no; not by me.” “By whom, then?” Elias put this question, smiling defiantly.