THE MAGIC BARREL
689
Leo blushed at this, regretting all he had revealed of himself
in a curriculum vitae he had sent to Salzman. He had thought it
best to acquaint him with his strict standards and specifications, but
in having done so now felt he had told the marriage broker more
than was absolutely necessary.
He hesitantly inquired, "Do you keep photographs of your clients
on file?"
"First comes family, amount of dowry, also what kind promises,"
Salzman replied, unbuttoning his tight coat and settling himself in
the chair. "After comes pictures, rabbi."
"Call me Mr. Finkle. I'm not a rabbi yet."
Salzman said he would, but instead called
him
doctor, which
he changed to rabbi when Leo was not listening too attentively.
Salzman adjusted his horn-rimmed spectacles, gently cleared
his throat and read in an eager voice the contents of the top card:
"Sophie P. Twenty-four years. Widow for one year. No chil–
dren. Educated high school and two years college. Father promises
eight thousand dollars. Has wonderful wholesale business. Also real
estate. On the mother's side comes teachers,
also
one actor. Well
known on Second Avenue."
Leo gazed up in surprise, "Did you say a widow?"
"A widow don't mean spoiled, rabbi. She lived with her hus–
band maybe four months. He was a sick boy, she made a mistake
to marry him."
"Marrying a widow has never entered my mind."
"This is because you have no experience. A widow, specially
if she is young and healthy like this
girl,
is a wonderful person to
marry. She will be thankful to you the rest of her life. Believe me,
if I w,as looking now for a bride, I would marry a widow."
Leo reflected, then shook his head.
Salzman hunched his shoulders in an almost imperceptible ges–
ture of disappointment. He placed the card down on the wooden
table and began to read another:
"Lily H. High school teacher. Regular. Not a substitute. Has
savings and new Dodge car. Lived in Paris one year. Father is suc–
cessful dentist thirty-five years. Interested in professional man. Well
Americanized family. Wonderful opportunity.
"I know her personally," said Salzman. "I wish you could see
