130 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.
The Master Reader began his quaint formula, " May He who blessed our Fathers," pausing at the point where the Hebrew is blank for the amount. He span out the prefatory "Who vows" — the last note prolonging itself, like the vibration of a tuning-fork, at a literal pitch of suspense. It was a sensational halt, due to his forgetting the amounts or demanding corroboration at the eleventh hour, and the stingy often recklessly amended their contributions, panic- struck under the pressure of imminent publicity.
" Who vows — " The congregation hung upon his lips. With his usual gesture of interrogation, he inclined his ear towards Manasseh's mouth, his face wearing an unusual look of perplexity ; and those nearest the platform were aware of a little colloquy between the Sc/inorrcr and the Master Reader, the latter bewildered and agitated, the former stately. The delay had discomposed the Master as much as it had whetted the curiosity of the congregation. He repeated :
" Who vows — cinco livras " — he went on glibly without a pause — "for charity — for the life of Yankov ben Yitz- chok, his son-in-law, &c, &c." But few of the worshippers heard any more than the cinco liv?'as (five pounds). A thrill ran through the building. Men pricked up their ears, incredulous, whispering one another. One man deliberately moved from his place towards the box in which sat the Chief of the Elders, the presiding dignitary in the absence of the President of the Mahamad.
" I didn't catch — how much was that?" he asked.
" Five pounds," said the Chief of the Elders shortly. He suspected an irreverent irony in the Beggar's contribution.
The Benediction came to an end, but ere the hearers had time to realise the fact, the Master Reader had started on another. "May He who blessed our fathers!" he began,
