"He who fawns on the gentiles," said another, "that he may obtain places from them."
"He is ashamed of his father's blood; he will deny his mother," was the taunt of a third.
"Who is it?" asked the boys, flocking up.
"It is Shagarach, who was called an apostate in the Messenger last week."
Jewish boys nearly all learn enough of Hebrew to read the characters. They understood the answer and passed it along to their comrades.
"Here comes Shagarach, who was printed among the apostates," they cried, edging near the lawyer, while the older folks prudently contented themselves with passing remarks.
Shagarach only turned a deaf ear and a pitying glance upon his misguided people. But as he chanced to look into the window of Silberstein's store, the first page of the Messenger, conspicuously spread out, attracted his attention, and he saw, under a black heading, among a list of "apostates" his own name, with the description "Gentile Judge." The malevolent features of Simon Rabofsky scowled at him from within, but were instantly withdrawn. Shagarach, however, stopped and rung the bell, while the circle around him stared in wonder. Was the pervert going into Nathan Silberstein's house?
There was a long pause before any one answered. The maid who finally came was wiping her hands on her apron.
"Good-evening, Mrs. Silberstein," said the lawyer. "I am Meyer Shagarach, of whom you have doubtless heard. I desire to see Simon Rabofsky, who, I perceive, is within."
A great flurry of moving chairs could be heard, as though the convocation was breaking up.