136 THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.
His eyes twinkled continuously throughout.
The next day, Manasseh fared forth to collect the hundred pounds !
The day being Sunday, he looked to find most of his clients at home. He took Grobstock first as being nearest, but the worthy speculator and East India Director espied him from an upper window, and escaped by a back-door into Goodman's Fields — a prudent measure, seeing that the incredulous Manasseh ransacked the house in quest of him. Manasseh's manner was always a search-warrant.
The King consoled himself by paying his next visit to a personage who could not possibly evade him — none other than the sick President of the Mahamad. He lived in Devon- shire Square, in solitary splendour. Him Manasseh bearded in his library, where the convalescent was sorting his collec- tion of prints. The visitor had had himself announced as a gentleman on synagogual matters, and the public-spirited President had not refused himself to the business. But when he caught sight of Manasseh, his puffy features were dis- torted, he breathed painfully, and put his hand to his hip.
" You ! " he gasped.
" Have a care, my dear sir ! Have a care ! " said Manas- seh anxiously, as he seated himself. " You are still weak. To come to the point — for I would not care to distract too much a man indispensable to the community, who has already felt the hand of the Almighty for his treatment of the poor — "
He saw that his words were having effect, for these pros- perous pillars of the Synagogue were mightily superstitious under affliction, and he proceeded in gentler tones. "To come to the point, it is my duty to inform you (for I am the only man who is certain of it) that while you have been away our Synagogue has made a bad debt ! "
