The three men clinked glasses.
Rozenoffski drew out a hundred-lire note.
'Send that to the poor devil,' he said.
'Oho!' laughed Schneemann. 'You still believe "Charity delivers from death!" Well, I must be saved too!' And he threw down another hundred-lire note.
To the acutely analytical Barstein it seemed as if an old superstitious thrill lay behind Schneemann's laughter as behind Rozenoffski's donation.
'You will only make the Luftmensch believe still more obstinately in his Providence,' he said, as he gathered up the New Year gifts. 'Again will he declare that he has been accorded a good writing and a good sealing by the Heavenly Tribunal!'
'Well, hasn't he?' laughed Schneemann.
'Perhaps he has,' said Rozenoffski musingly. 'Qui sa?'