THE MAGIC BARREL
595
She bravely went on, blushing, "I for one am grateful for his
introducing us. Aren't you?"
He courteously replied, "I am."
"I mean," she said with a little laugh-and it was all in good
taste, or at least gave the effect of being not in bad-"do you mind
that we came together so?"
He was not afraid of her honesty, recognizing that she meant
to set the relationship aright, and understanding that it took a cer–
tain amount of experience in life, and courage, to want to do it quite
that way. One had to have some sort of past to- make that kind
of beginning.
He said that he did not mind. Salzman's function was tradi–
tional and honorable-valuable for what it might achieve, which, he
pointed out, was frequently nothing.
Lily agreed with a sigh. They walked on for a while and she
said after a long silence, again with a nervous laugh, "Would you
mind
if
I asked you something a little bit personal? Frankly, I find
the subject fascinating." Although Leo shrugged, she went on half
embarrassedly, "How was it that you came to your calling? I mean,
was it a sudden passionate inspiration?"
Leo, after a time, slowly replied, "I was always interested m
the Law."
"You saw revealed in it the presence of the Highest?"
He nodded and changed the subject. "I understand you spent
a little time in Paris, Miss Hirschorn?"
"Oh, did Mr. Salzman tell you, Rabbi Finkle?" Leo winced
but she went on, "It was ages and ages ago and almost forgotten.
I remember I had to return for my sister's wedding."
But Lily would not be put off. "When," she asked in a trembly
voice, "did you become enamored of God?"
He stared at her. Then it came to him that she was talking not
about Leo Finkle, but a total stranger, some mystical figure, perhaps
even passionate prophet that Salzman had conjured up for her-no
relation to the living or dead. Leo trembled with rage and weak–
ness. The trickster had obviously sold her a bill of goods, just as
he had him, who'd expected to become acquainted with a young
lady of twenty-nine, only to behold, the moment he laid eyes upon
her strained and anxious face, a woman past thirty-five and aging
