The Ghetto - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
It's beautiful. I leave it to any one.
SACHEL.
So do I. I leave it to Rosa; she's a Christian, she knows nothing about trade. Rosa!
ROSA.
[_Coming to him._] Yes.
SACHEL.
Am I not right? Is it not charity to offer him half a guilder for that lace?
DANIEL.
[_Mischievously._] A beautiful piece of lace!
SAMSON.
A splendid piece of lace; he could not have come honestly by that!
SACHEL.
I have not summoned every idler in the street. Rosa!
[_Exeunt DANIEL and SAMSON._
MORDECAI.
[_Whispering to ROSA._] My son is dead, how can I bury him without money? It was his mother's--the only fragment I have left of hers----
SACHEL.
I hear you; is he giving you something?
ROSA.
[_In compa.s.sion._] It is not so badly worn; surely it is worth four guilders!
SACHEL.
You lie! I say you lie! Do you think you can make a fool of me--you thieves! Ah, I know you are standing there, twisting your cheeks at me! But you shall not rob me; no, no! Give me that! [_He takes the lace and examines it with his fingers._] I knew it! It has been patched--by some bag-maker. You minx--you hussy! Do I feed you that you may rob me? Everybody lies to me--but they do not deceive me! I will not give half a guilder--only thirty cents.
MORDECAI.
Sachel! I must have _two_ guilders! He died in my arms. You have a son--for pity's sake--for pity's sake!
SACHEL.
Have you had pity on my eyes? You say this lace is whole; it is a lie.
You say your son is dead; that is a lie too, for all I know. I'll give no more--no more.
MORDECAI.
Oh! Oh! Give me that! You black-hearted miser. [_He s.n.a.t.c.hes it._] You are rich--you have known me for years--and you would let my son be buried in the pauper's field! A curse on you! May your son _live_ to hate you--desert you--disown you--curse you, as I do!
[_Exit MORDECAI._
SACHEL.
Rosa! Run and offer him a guilder and a half! Run!
ROSA.
Mordecai! He will not stop! He's gone!
SACHEL.
With a curse! Could I be more cursed than I am? Come here. You have driven the trade from my door.
ROSA.
I?
SACHEL.
Yes, you--you misbegotten wretch! Had you not whined and pleaded for him, he would have taken a guilder. If you, too, had said, "Tatters!
nothing but tatters." Why did you not?
ROSA.
Because I will not lie for you!
SACHEL.
I employ you to do my bidding! What are you doing now--idling, wasting precious time? [_ROSA begins to sweep._] In the middle of last night--were you up?
ROSA.
No!
SACHEL.
[_Ironically._] You will not lie for me! Why are you so disturbed about it?
ROSA.
I am not disturbed.
