All this was spoken enthusiastically, his head triumphally raised and his voice filled with warm prayer. But nothing could equal the astonishment, and in the meantime the irony, with which Leopold listened to him. As Meir finished he selected a match from a silver box, bending his head in order to hide the fact that he was laughing.
"Nu," said Meir, "what do you think of what I have said? Is it a good idea?"
Leopold lighted the match and answered:
"I am thinking that if I were to speak of your plans to my family or my comrades they would be much amused."
The light which shone in Meir's eyes was quenched at once.
"Why would they laugh?" he whispered.
At that moment Leopold lighted his cigarette and the fragrant smoke floated through the room to where the company were gathered around the yellow sofa. Raphael raised his head in astonishment and looked back at him. Saul also looked toward the window, and rising from the sofa he said politely but with determination:
"I beg your pardon, but I cannot permit anything in my house which is contrary to the holy law."
Having said this he sat down again looking at Leopold from beneath his bushy eyebrows. Leopold grew very red, threw the cigarette on the floor, and crushed it angrily with his foot.
"Such is your civility!" said he to Meir.