598
PARTISAN REVIEW
out to be more, consequently less than I am. She had in mind a
totally different person, a sort of semi-mystical Wonder Rabbi."
"All I said, you was a religious man."
"I can imagine."
Salzman sighed. "This is my weakness that I have," he con–
fessed. "My wife says to me I shouldn't be a salesman, but when I
have two fine people that they would be wonderful to be married,
I am so happy that I talk too much." He smiled wanly. "This is
why Salzman is a poor man."
Leo's anger went. ",,yell, Salzman, I'm afraid that's all."
The marriage broker fastened hungry eyes on him.
"You don't want any more a bride?"
"I do," said Leo, "but I have decided to seek her in a different
way. I am no longer interested in an arranged marriage. To be frank,
I now admit the necessity of premarital love. That is, I want to be
in love with the one I marry."
"Love?" said Salzman, astounded. Mter a moment he said,
"For us, our love is our life, not for the ladies. In the ghetto they-"
"I know, I know," said Leo. "I've thought of it often. Love,
I have said to myself, should be a by-product of living and worship
rather than its own end. Yet for myself I find it necessary to estab–
lish the level of my need and to fulfill it."
Salzman shrugged but answered, "Listen, rabbi, if you want
love, this I can find for you also. I have such beautiful clients that
you will love them the minute your eyes will see them."
Leo smiled unhappily. "I'm afraid you don't understand."
But Salzman hastily unstrapped his portfolio and withdrew
;;t
manila packet from it.
"Pictures," he said, quickly laying the envelope on the table.
Leo called after him to take the pictures away, but as if on
the wings of the wind, Salzman had disappeared.
March came. Leo had returned to his regular routine. Although
he felt not quite himself yet-lacked energy-he was making plans
for a more active social life. Of course it would cost something, but
he was an expert in cutting corners; and when there were no corners
left he could make circles rounder. All the while Salzman's pictures
had lain on the table, gathering dust. Occasionally as Leo sat study-
