'I said Joseph was a goodly person and well-favoured,' retorted the goaded minister.
The Parnass took snuff, and his sneeze sounded like a guffaw.
'Well, well,' he said more kindly, 'you must try again to-morrow.'
'I didn't undertake to preach every Saturday,' grumbled the minister, growing bolder.
'As long as Simeon Samuels keeps open, you can't shut,' said Solomon angrily.
'It's a duel between you,' added Peleg.
'And Simeon actually comes into to-morrow's Sedrah' (portion), Barzinsky remembered exultantly. '"And took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes." There's your very text. You'll pick out Simeon from among us, and bind him to keep the Sabbath.'
'Or you can say Satan has taken Simeon and bound him,' added the Parnass. 'You have a choice—yourself or Satan.'
'Perhaps you had better preach yourself, then,' said the minister sullenly. 'I still can't see what that text has to do with Sabbath-breaking.'
'It has as much to do with Sabbath-breaking as Potiphar's wife,' shrieked Solomon Barzinsky.