To be called a graceless Gentile and a sinner in Israel is not pleasant to a pious Jew; but all Raphael's minor sensations were swallowed up in a great wonderment.
'We are ruined!' moaned the furniture-dealer who was always failing.
'You have ruined us!' came the chorus from the thick, sensuous lips, and swarthy fists were shaken threateningly.
Sugarman's hairy paw was almost against his face. Raphael turned cold, then a rush of red-hot blood flooded his veins. He put out his good right hand, and smote the nearest fist aside. Sugarman blenched and skipped back, and the line of fists wavered.
'Don't be fools, gentlemen,' said De Haan, his keen sense of humour asserting itself. 'Let Mr. Leon sit down.'
Raphael, still dazed, took his seat on the editorial chair.
'Now what can I do for you?' he said courteously.
The fists drooped at his calm.
'Do for us?' said Schlesinger dryly. 'You've done for the paper. It's not worth twopence.'
'Well, bring it out at a penny at once, then,' laughed Little Sampson, reinforced by the arrival of his editor.