'It stands in the Talmud,' interposed Mendel, with unwonted animation in his long figure, 'that one must not even offer a nut to allure customers. From light to heavy, therefore, it may be deduced that——'
A still small voice broke in upon the storm. 'But Simeon Samuels hasn't a Christian partner,' said Mrs. Mendel.
There was an embarrassed pause.
'He has only his wife to help him,' she went on. 'I know, because I went to the shop Friday morning on pretence of asking for a cuckoo-clock.'
'But a marine-dealer doesn't sell clocks,' put in the Parnass's wife timidly. It was her first contribution to the conversation, for she was overpowered by her husband's greatness.
'Don't be silly, Hannah!' said the Parnass. 'That was just why Mrs. Mendel asked for it.'
'Yes, but unfortunately Simeon Samuels did have one,' Mrs. Mendel confessed; 'and I couldn't get out of buying it.'
There was a general laugh.
'Cut-throat competition, I call it,' snarled Solomon Barzinsky, recovering from his merriment.
'But you don't sell clocks,' said the Parnass.