THE
MAGIC
BARREL
597
deeply troubled at the thought of the loss of
all
his years of study–
saw them like pages from a book strewn over the city-and at the
devastating effect of this decision upon his parents. But he had lived
without knowledge of himself, and never in the Five Books and all
the Commentaries-mea culpa-had the truth been revealed to him.
He did not know where to turn, and in all this desolating loneliness
there was no
to whom,
although he often thought of Lily but not
once could bring himself to go downstairs and make the call. He
became touchy and irritable, especially with his landlady, who asked
him
all
manner of questions; on the other hand, sensing his own dis–
agreeableness, he waylaid her on the stairs and apologized abjectly,
until mortified, she ran from him. Out of this, however, he drew
the consolation that he was yet a Jew and that a Jew suffered. But
gradually, as the long and terrible week drew to a close, he regained
his composure and some idea of purpose in life: to go on as
planned. Although he was imperfect, the ideal was not. As for his
quest of a bride, the thought of continuing afflicted him with anxiety
and heartburn, yet perhaps with this new knowledge of himself he
would be more successful than in the past. Perhaps love would now
come to him and a bride to that love. And for this sanctified seeking
who needed a Salzman?
The marriage broker, a skeleton with haunted eyes, returned
that very night. He looked, withal, the picture of frustrated expec–
tancy-as if he had steadfastly waited the week at Miss Lily Hirsch–
om's side for a telephone call that never came.
Casually coughing, Salzman came immediately to the point:
"So how did you like her?"
Leo's anger rose and he could not refrain from chiding the
matchmaker: "Why did you lie to me, Salzman?"
Salzman's pale face went dead white, as if the world had snowed
on him.
"Did you not state that she w.as twenty-nine?" Leo insisted.
"I give you my word-"
"She was thirty-five.
At least
thirty-five."
"Of this I would not be too sure. Her father told me-"
"Never mind. The worst of it was that you lied to her."
"How did I lie to her, tell me?"
"You told her things about me that weren't true. You made me
