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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.
