"I am sorry if I misunderstood," murmured the poor President, "but how, then, do you owe the money?"
"How, then?" repeated Manasseh impatiently. "Cannot you understand that I have donated it to the Synagogue?"
The President stared at him open-mouthed.
"I vowed it yesterday in celebration of my daughter's marriage."
The President let a sigh of relief pass through his open mouth. He was even amused a little.
"Oh, is that all? It was like your deuced effrontery; but still, the Synagogue doesn't lose anything. There's no harm done."
"What is that you say?" enquired Manasseh sternly. "Do you mean to say I am not to pay this money?"
"How can you?"
"How can I? I come to you and others like you to pay it for me."
"Nonsense! Nonsense!" said the President, beginning to lose his temper again. "We'll let it pass. There's no harm done."