rooms were fourteen dollars a month. I saw the receipts made out last month."
The tenant grinned fiendishly.
"Sure you did," she replied. "We've been getting all kinds of receipts. Oncet we got a receipt for eighteen dollars, when dere was some vacancies in de house, but one of de syndicate says he'd get some more of dem 'professional' tenants, because it didn't look so good to a feller what comes snooping around for to buy the house, to see such high rents."
"Syndicate?" Abe murmured. "Professional tenants?"
"Sure," the tenant replied. "Dere was four to de syndicate. Magnus was one. Sumpin about a hen was de other, and den dere was dis here Rabin and a guy called Michaelson."
"And what is this about professional tenants?" Morris croaked.
"Oh, dere was twenty-four families in de house, includin' de housekeeper," the tenant replied. "Eighteen of 'em was professionals, and when de syndicate sold youse de house de professionals moved up to a house on Fourt' Street what de syndicate owns."
Abe pulled his hat over his eyes and thrust his hands into his trousers' pockets.
"S'enough, lady," he said; "I heard enough already."
He turned to Morris.