"It is a ridiculous story, Witebski. There, tell me, do you know Saul
Ezofowich's grandson?"
"Which of them?" asked Eli. "Saul has many grandsons."
"What is his name?" asked the nobleman, half-turning his head toward
Jankiel.
"Meir, Meir, that worthless fellow!"
Witebski nodded his head as a sign that he understood.
"Well," he said, with an indulgent smile, "I would not quite call him a worthless fellow. He is young, and will mend; he is hot-headed though."
"What! a little wrong here?" laughed the gentleman, pointing to his forehead.
"Well," said Eli, "he is not mad, but rash and impulsive, and just now had done a very foolish thing, and put me into a most awkward position. Ai! Ai! what trouble and vexation I had through him, and shall have still—"
"Oh, that's it!" said the lord. "He is a kind, of half-witted mischief-maker, who does not know what he wants, and gets in everybody's way?"
"The noble lord has guessed it," said Eli, but he added at once. "He is very young, and will yet be a decent man."