Raphael looked up eagerly.
'What do you say?' said Goldsmith. 'Shall I buy it up and let you work it on your lines?'
'I shall be very glad,' said Raphael, the Messianic look returning to his face.
'How much will they want for it?'
'Oh, I think they'll be glad to let you take it over. They say it's not worth twopence, and I'm sure they haven't got the funds to carry it on,' replied Raphael, rising. 'I'll go down about it at once. The committee have just been here, and I dare say they are still in Schlesinger's office.'
'No, no,' said Goldsmith, pushing him down into his seat. 'It will never do if people know I'm the proprietor.'
'Why not?'
'Oh, lots of reasons. I'm not a man to brag. If I want to do a good thing for Judaism, there's no reason for all the world to know it. Then, again, from my position on all sorts of committees, I shall be able to influence the communal advertisements in a way I couldn't if people knew I had any connection with the paper. So, too, I shall be able to recommend it to my wealthy friends (as no doubt it will deserve to be recommended) without my praise being discounted.'
'Well, but, then, what am I to say to the committee?'
'Can't you say you want to buy it for yourself? They know you can afford it.'