BORUCH. Why only for the masses? What do you mean by that? Are these masses nothing but a lot of idiots?
[SHLOIME makes several attempts to enter the sitting-room and give them the telegram; but he is too timid.]
FURMAN (didactically). I am sorry to contradict you, young man, but I did not say that. Don't run away with yourself. While I believe you are in sympathy with the common people, you haven't that childish naive belief in the heavenly kingdom which they have. You have not even the religion to which the masses cling to this day.
LEISER. Religion! They never even enter the synagogue. They eat trefa food and never say the Sabbath prayers. This is the truth, doctor, the bare truth.
FURMAN. One must not forget that we Jews, even at the height of our political power, were nothing but a religio-national group. Without religion, we have no nationality.
BORUCH. I can not understand why you tell me all this.
FURMAN. I want to explain how I established myself, and upon what ground. Do not be in a hurry.
LEISER. Let the doctor speak his mind. Don't be rude.
FURMAN. An intelligent Jew loses his religion and his nationality at the same time. That is the law of the evolution of the Jewish people. Our Judaism is strongly bound to religion. Who among educated Jews claims to be religious? I do not know such people, I have never met them. In a short time there is very little left of what was Jewish in them save the accent, which serves as endless material for Russian wit. And what remains to be done? We are asked to become Christians. Well, this doesn't take long to do. Where they ridicule Jews in your presence, you must keep it up or you would betray yourself. The poor Jew must die of starvation. Do your best to get rich; a Jew doesn't want to die any more than any other human being. Then when you are rich, people will bow to you, and you, who remained a Jew, will laugh at them. That is the logic of life in a nutshell. (He rises.) Now I must bid you good-bye. To-morrow I shall visit the young lady again. (He shakes hands with LEISER, who offers him his fee.) No, sir, I cannot accept that! I cannot, my esteemed Leiser Moiseewitch. (He holds his hands behind his back and bows politely.)
LEISER. Why so? You have worked, and no one shall work for nothing. (He tries to hand him the money again.) One mustn't work for nothing.
FURMAN. I'm not doing this for nothing. I received my highest reward in that I could be of service to you. (He attempts to leave; LEISER follows him.) If you have ready money,
give it away to poor Jews. There are plenty of them in our town. (BORUCH goes to his room with an ironical smile on his face.)
LEISER. Very well. Thank you. Excuse us, doctor, for being so rude to you, and so unceremonious. (He escorts FURMAN to the door, where the latter leaves; LEISER remains in the doorway and talks to him off stage.) I? Very bad, doctor, very bad. It is time for me to die. (Pause.) My stomach? It's in fairly good order. A poor Jew must not complain. (He bows and returns.)
SHLOIME (somewhat mysterious). What do you think, Reb Leiser?
SHLOIME. A riot has broken out in Kisheneff.
LEISER. What are you talking about?
SHLOME (hands him the paper). Here is the news.
LEISER. They beat us everywhere, all the time. Everybody does. We do not spare even ourselves. We are our own worst enemies. (He throws the paper down and goes toward LEAH's room.) Oi, oi, oi! (BORUCH enters the sitting-room.) The riots have begun at Kisheneff. Did you know that?
BORUCH. I did.
LEISER. I am afraid that Leah will know it, too. We must not tell her. Let her quiet herself first. (He enters LEAH'S room on tiptoe, and returns in the same manner.) She has fallen asleep. We must let her rest. May she have a pleasant dream! Oi, oi, oi. (BORUCH takes his hat.) Where are you going?
BORUCH. I must go away. I'll soon return. (He leaves through the store. LEISER follows him but remains in the shop.)
LEISER. You mustn't make so much noise, Shloime. Leah is asleep. More trouble coming, Shloime. They are plundering us again. Oi, oi, oi! But we must not let Leah know about it. She must rest for two or three days. (He sits down to his work.)
(Pan enters the store.)
PAN. How do you do, Mr. Frenkel.
LEISER (bowing). Please be seated (silence).
PAN. Have you heard that the riot at Kisheneff has begun?
LEISER. What can we do? It seems to be our fate. What can I do for you, Pan?
PAN. I must have some money, my esteemed friend. I must have some or die, my dear man. Give me a little help in the form of a loan.
LEISER (very seriously). Does the worthy Pan think that all the Jews have money to loan at interest?
PAN. Well, neighbor, who can keep money as you? I do not want much. Two hundred roubles on a note. I'll give you big interest.