Pums did not finish his sentence. He had taken on a sinister pallor; his chocolate-colored eyeballs were even more haggard and prominent, as if they were on the point of jumping out of their sockets. Schleifmann turned round and recognized Herschstein. The head of the Black Band entered by a side door, his hat on his head, smiling, without knocking, as if he were at home, as master; brilliantine shone in silvery eddies in his patriarchal gray beard. When he caught sight of Schleifmann, he recoiled prudently; his venerable face took on a different expression and he murmured modestly: "Ah! you are busy!" Pums, who was diligently sorting some papers, did not reply. Schleifmann examined them both in turn, a flame of contempt in his eyes. "Eh, M. Pums!" he commanded sarcastically. "I am waiting.... Here is one of them.... Go ahead!... Let him know what you think of it.... Tell him! Ha! You have forgotten! Patience, M. Herschstein.... It will come.... M. Pums has a heartload to let out for you!... He is trying to find.... Sit down!" "What does this mean?" Herschstein asked, icily. "I shall explain, my dear friend!" stammered Pums. "We were talking of M. Raindal's brother, who is losing on the mines.... M. Schleifmann is joking...." "Am I joking!" the Galician said, smashing his fist on the table so violently that the ink came out of the inkstand. "Truly, here is ground for joking indeed!" He eyed them both. "So! you are in league!... So, 'it goes!'... You, M. Pums, you make up a pair with M. Herschstein.... And you, M. Herschstein, you come to give account!... Congratulations! It must have been a fine massacre!... Write it down, M. Pums. I shall dictate: Profits of September 2nd: M. Cyprien Raindal, one hundred and ten thousand francs.... Hah! M. Pums, how much of that do you get? Ten thousand? Fifteen thousand?" He chuckled, then suddenly his face fell under an intolerable sadness. "Malediction!" he groaned, prowling about the room. "Malediction and misery!... Yes, ever since Sinai, there has been the same eternal misunderstanding!... God gives His People supreme intelligence and His People prostitute it to the basest works, and then God exacts vengeance because His People ignore Him! It is the whole history of Israel, all their unhappiness.... Malediction! Malediction!... When shall this cease?... You are not a fool, M. Pums, nor you either, M. Herschstein!... But you believe, don't you, that the Lord has given you this power of mind so that you can manipulate the markets, and pile up gold.... Madmen that you are! I see the hand of the Lord over you!... It was because they had betrayed His law that your ancestors went to Babylon, to Nineveh and to Egypt! And for the same reason, you will have to go elsewhere!" He stretched out his arm towards mysterious far distant places.