122 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.
" And what prevents you taking your turn in the grave- yard watches?" sneered the Chancellor.
The antagonists were now close together, one on either side of the President of the Mahamad, who was wedged between the two bobbing, quarrelling figures, his complexion altering momently for the blacker, and his fingers working nervously.
"What prevents me?" replied Manasseh. " My age. It would be a sin against heaven to spend a night in the cemetery. If the body-snatchers did come they might find a corpse to their hand in the watch-tower. But I do my duty — I always pay a substitute."
" No doubt," said the Treasurer. " I remember your asking me for the money to keep an old man out of the cemetery. Now I see what you meant."
"Yes," began two others, " and I — "
" Order, gentlemen, order," interrupted the President desperately, for the afternoon was flitting, the sun was set- ting, and the shadows of twilight were falling. "You must not argue with the man. Hark you, my fine fellow, we re- fuse to sanction this marriage ; it shall not be performed by our ministers, nor can we dream of admitting your son-in- law as a Yahid."
"Then admit him on your Charity List," said Manasseh.
" We are more likely to strike you off! And, by gad ! " cried the President, tattooing on the table with his whole fist, " if you don't stop this scandal instanter, we will send you howling."
" Is it excommunication you threaten ? " said Manasseh, using to his feet. There was a menacing glitter in his eye.
" This scandal must be stopped," repeated the President, agitatedly rising in involuntary imitation.
" Any member of the Mahamad could stop it in a twink-
