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〃Your talk has neither face nor figure；〃 answered Sugarman； sternly。
〃It is just the people one sees every day that one knows least。 I
warrant that if I had not put it into your head you would never have
dreamt of Leibel as a son…in…law。 Come now； confess。〃
Eliphaz grunted vaguely； and the Shadchan went on triumphantly： 〃I
thought as much。 And yet where could you find a better man to keep
your daughter？〃
〃He ought to be content with her alone；〃 grumbled her father。
Sugarman saw the signs of weakening； and dashed in； full strength：
〃It's a question whether he will have her at all。 I have not been to
him about her yet。 I awaited your approval of the idea。〃 Leibel
admired the verbal accuracy of these statements； which he had just
caught。
〃But I didn't know he would be having money；〃 murmured Eliphaz。
〃Of course you didn't know。 That's what the Shadchan is forto point
out the things that are under your nose。〃
〃But where will he be getting this money from？〃
〃From you；〃 said Sugarman； frankly。
〃From me？〃
〃From whom else？ Are you not his employer？ It has been put by for his
marriage day。〃
〃He has saved it？〃
〃He has not /spent/ it；〃 said Sugarman； impatiently。
〃But do you mean to say he has saved fifty pounds？〃
〃If he could manage to save fifty pounds out of your wages he would be
indeed a treasure；〃 said Sugarman。 〃Perhaps it might be thirty。〃
〃But you said fifty。〃
〃Well； /you/ came down to thirty；〃 retorted the Shadchan。 〃You cannot
expect him to have more than your daughter brings。〃
〃I never said thirty；〃 Eliphaz reminded him。 〃Twenty…seven ten was my
last bid。〃
〃Very well； that will do as a basis of negotiations；〃 said Sugarman；
resignedly。 〃I will call upon him this evening。 If I were to go over
and speak to him now； he would perceive you were anxious； and raise
his terms； and that will never do。 Of course you will not mind
allowing me a pound more for finding you so economical a son…in…law？〃
〃Not a penny more。〃
〃You need not fear；〃 said Sugarman； resentfully。 〃It is not likely I
shall be able to persuade him to take so economical a father…in…law。
So you will be none the worse for promising。〃
〃Be it so；〃 said Eliphaz； with a gesture of weariness； and he started
his machine again。
〃Twenty…seven pounds ten； remember；〃 said Sugarman； above the whir。
Eliphaz nodded his head； whirring his wheel…work louder。
〃And paid before the wedding； mind。〃
The machine took no notice。
〃Before the wedding； mind；〃 repeated Sugarman。 〃Before we go under the
canopy。〃
〃Go now； go now！〃 grunted Eliphaz； with a gesture of impatience。 〃It
shall all be well。〃 And the white…haired head bowed immovably over its
work。
In the evening Rose extracted from her father the motive of Sugarman's
visit； and confessed that the idea was to her liking。
〃But dost thou think he will have me； little father？〃 she asked； with
cajoling eyes。
〃Any one would have my Rose。〃
〃Ah； but Leibel is different。 So many years he has sat at my side and
said nothing。〃
〃He had his work to think of。 He is a good； saving youth。〃
〃At this very moment Sugarman is trying to persuade himnot so？ I
suppose he will want much money。〃
〃Be easy； my child。〃 And he passed his discoloured hand over her hair。
Sugarman turned up the next day； and reported that Leibel was
unobtainable under thirty pounds； and Eliphaz； weary of the contest；
called over Leibel； till that moment carefully absorbed in his
scientific chalk marks； and mentioned the thing to him for the first
time。 〃I am not a man to bargain；〃 Eliphaz said； and so he gave the
young man his tawny hand； and a bottle of rum sprang from somewhere；
and work was suspended for five minutes； and the 〃hands〃 all drank
amid surprised excitement。 Sugarman's visits had prepared them to
congratulate Rose； but Leibel was a shock。
The formal engagement was marked by even greater junketing； and at
last the marriage day came。 Leibel was resplendent in a diagonal
frockcoat； cut by his own hand； and Rose stepped from the cab a medley
of flowers； fairness； and white silk； and behind her came two
bridesmaids；her sisters；a trio that glorified the spectator…strewn
pavement outside the synagogue。 Eliphaz looked almost tall in his
shiny high hat and frilled shirt…front。 Sugarman arrived on foot；
carrying red…socked little Ebenezer tucked under his arm。
Leibel and Rose were not the only couple to be disposed of； for it was
the thirty…third day of the Omera day fruitful in marriages。
But at last their turn came。 They did not； however； come in their
turn； and their special friends among the audience wondered why they
had lost their precedence。 After several later marriages had taken
place a whisper began to circulate。 The rumour of a hitch gained
ground steadily； and the sensation was proportionate。 And； indeed； the
rose was not to be picked without a touch of the thorn。
Gradually the facts leaked out； and a buzz of talk and comment ran
through the waiting synagogue。 Eliphaz had not paid up！
At first he declared he would put down the money immediately after the
ceremony。 But the wary Sugarman； schooled by experience； demanded its
instant delivery on behalf of his other client。 Hard pressed； Eliphaz
produced ten sovereigns from his trousers…pocket； and tendered them on
account。 These Sugarman disdainfully refused； and the negotiations
were suspended。 The bridegroom's party was encamped in one room； the
bride's in another； and after a painful delay Eliphaz sent an emissary
to say that half the amount should be forthcoming； the extra five
pounds in a bright new Bank of England note。 Leibel； instructed and
encouraged by Sugarman； stood firm。
And then arose a hubbub of voices； a chaos of suggestions； friends
rushed to and fro between the camps； some emerging from their seats in
the synagogue to add to the confusion。 But Eliphaz had taken his stand
upon a rockhe had no more ready money。 To…morrow； the next day； he
would have some。 And Leibel； pale and dogged； clutched tighter at
those machines that were slipping away momently from him。 He had not
yet seen his bride that morning； and so her face was shadowy compared
with the tangibility of those machines。 Most of the other maidens were
married women by now； and the situation was growing desperate。 From
the female camp came terrible rumours of bridesmaids in hysterics； and
a bride that tore her wreath in a passion of shame and humiliation。
Eliphaz sent word that he would give an I O U for the balance； but
that he really could not muster any more current coin。 Sugarman
instructed the ambassador to suggest that Eliphaz should raise the
money among his friends。
And the short spring day slipped away。 In vain the minister； apprised
of the block； lengthened out the formulae for the other pairs； and
blessed them with more reposeful unctio