“I’m agreeable,” Abe murmured, “and I’m sure my Rosie ain’t got no objections neither.”

Mrs. Sheikman favored him with a look of contempt.

“What chance has a poor girl got it to get married?” she asked.

“When she ain’t got a dollar in the world,” Mrs. Mashkowitz added.  “And her own relatives from her own blood is millionaires already.”

“If you mean me,” Abe replied, “I ain’t no millionaire, I can assure you.  Far from it.”

“Plenty of money you got it, Potash,” Mrs. Mashkowitz said.  “Five hundred dollars to you is to me like ten cents.”

“He don’t think no more of five hundred dollars than you do of your life, lady,” Morris broke in with a raucous laugh.

“Do me the favor, Mawruss,” Abe cried, “and tend to your own business.”

“Sure,” Morris replied, as he turned to go.  “I thought I was helping you out, Abe, that’s all.”

He repaired to the rear of the store, while Abe piloted his two visitors into the show-room.

“Now what is it you want from me?” he asked.

“Not a penny she got it,” Mrs. Mashkowitz declared, breaking into tears.  “And she got a fine young feller what is willing to marry her and wants it only five hundred dollars.”

“Only five hundred dollars,” Mrs. Sheikman moaned.  “Only five hundred dollars. Ai vai!”

“Five hundred dollars!” Abe exclaimed.  “If you think you should cry till you get five hundred dollars out of me, you got a long wet spell ahead of you.  That’s all I got to say.”

“Might he would take two hundred and fifty dollars, maybe,” Mrs. Sheikman suggested hopefully through her tears.

“Don’t let him do no favors on my account,” Abe said; “because, if it was two hundred and fifty buttons it wouldn’t make no difference to me.”

“A fine young feller,” Mrs. Mashkowitz sobbed.  “He got six machines and two hundred dollars saved up and wants to go into the cloak and suit contracting business.”

“Only a hundred dollars if the poor girl had it,” Mrs. Sheikman burst forth again; “maybe he would be satisfied.”

“S’enough!” Abe roared.  “I heard enough already.”

He banged a sample table with his fist and Mrs. Sheikman jumped in her seat.

“That’s a heart what you got it,” she said bitterly, “like Haman.”

“Haman was a pretty good feller already compared to me,” Abe declared; “and also I got business to attend to.”

“Come, Sarah,” Mrs. Sheikman cried.  “What’s the use talking to a bloodsucker like him!”

“Wait!” Mrs. Mashkowitz pleaded; “I want to ask him one thing more.  If Miriam got it this young feller for a husband, might you would give him some of your work, maybe?”

“Bloodsuckers don’t give no work to nobody,” Abe replied firmly.  “And also will you get out of my store, or will you be put out?”

He turned on his heel without waiting for an answer and joined Morris in the rear of the store.