594
PARTISAN REVIEW
Salzman passionately pulled his clasped hands to his breast.
Looking at the ceiling he exclaimed, "Jewish children, what can I
say to somebody that he is not interested in high-school teachers?
So what then you are interested?"
Leo flushed but controlled himself.
"In who else you will be interested," Salzman went on,
"if
you
not interested in this fine girl that she speaks four languages and
has personally in the bank ten thousand dollars? Also her father
guarantees further twelve thousand. Also she has a new car, wonder–
ful clothes, talks on all subjects, and she will give you a first-class
home and children. How near do we come in our life to paradise?"
"If
she's so wonderful, why wasn't she married ten years ago?"
"Why?" said Salzman with a heavy laugh. "-Why? Because
she is
partikler.
This is why. She wants only the
best."
Leo was silent, amused at how he had trapped himself. But
Salzman had aroused his interest in Lily H., and he began seriously
to consider calling on her. When the marriage broker observed how
intently Leo's mind was at work on the facts he had supplied, he felt
positive they would soon come to an agreement.
Late Saturday afternoon, conscious of Salzman, Leo Finkle
walked with Lily Hirschorn along Riverside Drive. He walked briskly
and erectly, wearing with distinction the black fedora he had that
morning taken with trepidation out of the dusty hatbox on his closet
shelf, and the heavy black Saturday coat he had thoroughly whisked
clean. Leo also owned a walking stick, a present from a distant
relative, but had decided not to use it. Lily, petite and not unpretty,
had on something signifying the approach of spring. She was
au
courant,
animatedly, with all subjects, ,and he weighed her words
and found her surprisingly sound- score another for Salzman, whom
he uneasily sensed to be somewhere around, hiding perhaps high in
a tree along the street, flashing the lady signals; or perhaps a cloven–
hoofed Pan, piping nuptial ditties as he danced his invisible way
before them, strewing wild buds on the walk and purple summer
grapes in their path, symbolizing fruit of a union, of which there was
yet none.
Lily startled Leo by remarking, "I was thinking of Mr. Salzman,
a curious figure, wouldn't you say?"
Not certain what to answer, he nodded.
