"Only until an opportune moment arrived. How should he have known that the names Lesser and Friedheim belonged to his family? He was still a boy when connections were broken off with his mother's family, and he has never had any occasion to resume the relation," added Mr. Benas. "Friedheim, he knows you through your commentary; Lesser, you, through your 'Order of Bankruptcy,' your names are well known to the lawyer; but that is no reason for him to have supposed you to be his Mishpocheh. It was very evident that he was pleased to discover the additional tie." He laughed jovially. "That's human nature, but the feeling of satisfaction when special honor comes to any member of the family, is particularly developed among us. Even he does not deny this, and why? Estrangement does not change one's inherited nature."
"But habit and education do. Whoever alienates himself and cuts himself off, becomes an exile and a stranger," said Mr. Freudenthal.
"Dr. Weilen is not a case in point. The manner of his coming here is, in fact, an argument against your thesis."
"A mere mood, father, a romantic whim," Hugo said scornfully.
"In such matters your opinion does not count, because your views blind you and make a fanatic of you."
"After all, it is not a matter of great moment that he should have come here," said the Justizrat.
"Years ago you might have said so, but not now. Whoever seeks us now and acknowledges us, belongs to us."
"If you would only free yourself from the habit of considering whatever is connected in the remotest degree with the Jewish question as something of the greatest import. It's really a matter of absolute indifference to me whether a given person comes or goes, how he comes or goes, and what he thinks or does. It's merely a private matter, an individual case."
"Every individual case is at the present time a matter of universal concern," said Hugo, his eyes glowering.
"There we are, before we know it, at the same wearisome discussion. Throw the cat as you will, it always lands on its feet," exclaimed Mr. Benas, angrily.