"We Jews, I mean. No person in the world could possibly mistake you for one of the chosen."
"I should hope not. The idea is too absurd."
"Make your mind easy, sir; you would not pass muster in a synagogue without exciting remark. Yes, we are both thrifty and liberal, wasting nothing, and in the free spending of our money seeing that we get good value for it. That is not a reproach, nor is it a reproach that we thoroughly enjoy an agreeable thing when we get it for nothing. There are so many things in life to vex us that the opportunity of a good laugh should never be neglected. Proceed, my dear sir, proceed; you were saying that you believed you were not mistaken in taking me for a Jew."
"Is it your intention," asked Mr. Whimpole, coming now straight to the point, "to reside in Gosport?"
"If I am permitted," replied Aaron meekly.
"I hear, Mr. Cohen, that you have purchased the lease of this house."
"It is true, sir. The money has been paid and the lease is mine."
"It has twenty-seven years to run."
"Twenty-seven years and three months. Who can tell where we shall be, and how we shall be situated at the end of that time?"
Mr. Whimpole waved the contemplation aside. "You gave a hundred pounds for the lease."