A great laugh shook the crowd. But Peloni dug his nails into his palms. "Read on! Read on!" he cried hoarsely.
"'The Place of Refuge is in the State of New York, the largest in the American Union, and the spot to which I invite my beloved People from the whole world is called Grand Island.'"
Peloni drew a deep breath. His face had now changed to the other extreme and was flushed with excitement.
"Noah's Ark!" shot the Possemacher dryly, and had his audience swaying hysterically.
"For God's sake, brethren!" cried Peloni. "This is no joke. Have you forgotten already that here we are only animals?"
"And they went in two by two," said the Possemacher, "the clean beasts, and the unclean beasts!"
"Hush, hush, let us hear!" from some of the crowd.
"'Here I am resolved to lay the foundation of a State, named Ararat.'"
"Ah! what did I say?" the exultant Possemacher shrieked at Peloni.
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the crowd. "Noah's Ark resting on Ararat!" The dullest saw that.