CHAPTER IV
THE JEW
The following day Steve’s host had decided to go to Johannesburg to arrange about the sale of some slaughter bullocks. He invited Steve to go with him and act as interpreter. Steve said he should enjoy the drive, and went.
After business was concluded, Steve and Oom Hans were seated at a table in a café, partaking of some refreshments. On the opposite side of the table were seated two Jews, discussing some samples of quartz before them.
At last one of the Jews turned towards Oom Hans, with the usual insinuating familiar manner of the Jew and said,—
‘Mijnheer, don’t you tink dis quartz is goot? Dere ought to pe lots of gold in it?’
Oom Hans indulged in his usual quiet, good-natured laugh, and, turning to Steve, said,—
‘Let us make the hearts of these Jews ache a little. Show them a piece of the quartz you put in your pocket, but (aside) mind you don’t tell them our names or where we live?’
Steve smilingly took out a piece of quartz—it was by no means the best, and handed it to the Jews, and asked,—
‘What do you think of that?’
The Jews took the quartz, looked at it, and nearly jumped out of their boots from excitement when they saw the richness of the quartz.