"Your friendship counts for much, Mr. Moss," responded Aaron, pressing his companion's hand, "but every man must fight his own battle. I am not without hope, hard as is the trial through which I am passing. It is kind of you to be so solicitous about my affairs when you have such heavy troubles of your own to contend with. Are things very bad with you?"
"Oh, I shall weather the storm, but it will leave me rather crippled. What matters? Nil desperandum. And there is just one ray which may become a perfect sunbeam."
"Ah, I am glad to hear that."
"My eldest boy has started in business as a dentist, and has commenced well. Once a dentist makes his name the money rolls in. It is a favourite business with our people."
"Yes," said Aaron, somewhat absently, "I have observed it."
"It is a kind of revenge, Cohen."
"A kind of revenge!" echoed Aaron. "How so?"
"Well, you know, in old times the Christians used to extract our teeth to get our money from us, and now it's our turn. We extract theirs at a guinea a tooth. See?"
Aaron could not help smiling at the joke, and the friends parted with mutual expressions of goodwill.