FullReads

‘Of course, of course; everybody knows that.’

‘And yet to-day I’m pointed out as a sinner in Israel; I’m coupled with that Simeon Samuels. Simeon and Levy are brothers in their iniquity–with their assembly be not united. A pretty libel, indeed!’

The Parnass’s complacency collapsed like an air-ball at a pin-prick. ‘Oh, nonsense, everybody knows he couldn’t mean you.’

‘I don’t know so much. There are always people ready to think one has just been discovered keeping a back-door open or something. I shouldn’t be at all surprised to get a letter from my father-in-law in London–you know how pious old Cohn is! As for Simeon, he kept looking at me as if I was his long-lost brother. Ah, there comes our precious minister…. Look here, Mr. Gabriel, I’ll have the law on you. Simeon’s no brother of mine—-‘

The sudden appearance of Simeon through the other swing-door cut the speaker short. ‘Good Shabbos,’ said the shameless sinner. ‘Ah, Mr. Gabriel, that was a very fine sermon.’ He stroked his beard. ‘I quite agree with you. To dig down a public wall is indefensible. Nobody has the right to make more than a private hole in it, where it blocks out his own prospect. So please do not bracket me with Mr. Levy again. Good Shabbos!’ And, waving his hand pleasantly, he left them to their consternation.

IX

‘What an impudent face!’ said the Gabbai (treasurer), who witnessed the episode.

‘And our minister says I’m that man’s brother! exclaimed Mr. Levy.

‘Hush! Enough!’ said the Parnass, with a tactful inspiration. ‘You shall read the Haphtorah (prophetic section) next Shabbos.’

‘And Mr. Gabriel must explain he didn’t mean me,’ he stipulated, mollified by the magnificent Mitzvah (pious privilege).

‘You always try to drive a hard bargain,’ grumbled the Parnass. ‘That’s a question for Mr. Gabriel.’

The reverend gentleman had a happy thought. ‘Wait till we come to the text: “Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren.”‘

‘You’re a gentleman, Mr. Gabriel,’ ejaculated S. Cohn’s son-in-law, clutching at his hand.

‘And if he doesn’t close to-day after your splendid sermon,’ added the Gabbai, ‘you must call and talk to him face to face.’

The minister made a wry face. ‘But that’s not in my duties.’

‘Pardon me, Mr. Gabriel,’ put in the Parnass, ‘you have to call upon the afflicted and the bereaved. And Simeon Samuels is spiritually afflicted, and has lost his Sabbath.’

‘But he doesn’t want comforting.’

‘Well, Solomon Barzinsky does,’ said the Parnass. ‘Go to him instead, then, for I’m past soothing him. Choose!’

‘I’ll go to Simeon Samuels,’ said the preacher gloomily.

X

‘It is most kind of you to call,’ said Simeon Samuels as he wheeled the parlour armchair towards his reverend guest. ‘My wife will be so sorry to have missed you. We have both been looking forward so much to your visit.’

‘You knew I was coming?’ said the minister, a whit startled.

‘I naturally expected a pastoral visit sooner or later.’

‘I’m afraid it is later,’ murmured the minister, subsiding into the chair.

‘Better late than never,’ cried Simeon Samuels heartily, as he produced a bottle from the sideboard. ‘Do you take it with hot water?’

‘Thank you–not at all. I am only staying a moment.’

‘Ah!’ He stroked his beard. ‘You are busy?’

‘Terribly busy,’ said the Rev. Elkan Gabriel.

‘Even on Sunday?’

‘Rather! It’s my day for secretarial work, as there’s no school.’

‘Poor Mr. Gabriel. I at least have Sunday to myself. But you have to work Saturday and Sunday too. It’s really too bad.’

‘Eh,’ said the minister blankly.

‘Oh, of course I know you must work on the Sabbath.’

‘I work on–on Shabbos!’ The minister flushed to the temples.

‘Oh, I’m not blaming you. One must live. In an ideal world of course you’d preach and pray and sing and recite the Law for nothing so that Heaven might perhaps overlook your hard labour, but as things are you must take your wages.’

The minister had risen agitatedly. ‘I earn my wages for the rest of my work–the Sabbath work I throw in,’ he said hotly.