“I would rather hear all the objections before I set forth,” responded Countess calmly.
“Countess, you must clearly understand that we cannot deny our faith.”
“Who asked you to do so?”
“Nor can we hide it.”
“That is your own affair. Do Christians clean silver worse than Jews?”
“They should not, if they are real Christians and not mere pretenders.”
“Shams—I hate shams. Don’t be a sham anything. Please yourself whether you are a Jew or a Christian, but for goodness’ sake don’t be a sham.”
“I hope I am not that,” said David. “If you are content with us, Countess, my wife and I will be only too happy to go with you. The children—”
“Oh, you don’t fancy leaving them behind? Very well—they can play with Rudolph, and pull the cat’s tail.”
“I shall whip them if they do,” said Christian, referring not to Rudolph, but to the cat.