the landlord shook his head.

'all our rooms are full.'

david, still hugging his violin-case, looked at the dirty, mustard-smeared tablecloth on the long table, and at the host's brats playing on the floor. if this was the best, what in heaven's name awaited him elsewhere?

'for how long?' he asked.

the landlord shrugged his shoulders like the driver. 'am i the all-knowing?'

he wore a black velvet cap, but not with the apex that would have professed piety. its square cut indicated to the younger generation that he was a man of the world, in touch with the times; to the old its material and hue afforded sufficient guarantee of ritual orthodoxy. he was a true host, the friend of all who eat and drink.

'but how many rooms have you?' inquired david.

'and how many shall i have but one?' protested the landlord.

[378]'only one room!' david turned upon the driver. 'and you said this was the best inn! i suppose it's your brother-in-law's.'

'and what do i make out of it, if it is?' answered the driver. 'you see he can't take you.'

'then why did you bring me?'

'because there is no room anywhere else either.'

'what!' david stared.

'law of moses!' corroborated the landlord good-humouredly, 'you've just come at the recruiting. the young men have flocked here from all the neighbouring villages to draw their numbers. there are heathen peasants in all the jewish inns—eating kosher,' he added with a chuckle.

david frowned. but he reflected instantly that if this was so, the pogrom would probably be postponed till the christian conscripts had been packed off to their regiments or the lucky ones back to their villages. he would have time, therefore, to organize his jewish corps. yes, he reflected in grim amusement, russia and he would be recruiting simultaneously. still, where was he to sleep?

'you can have the lezhanka,' said the host, following his thoughts.

david looked ruefully at the high stove. well, there were worse beds in winter than the top of a stove. and perhaps to bestow himself and his violin in such very public quarters would be the safest way of diverting police attention. 'conspirators, please copy,' he thought, with a smile. anyhow, he was very tired. he could refresh himself here; the day was yet young; time enough to find a better lodging.

'bring in the luggage,' he said resignedly.

[379]'tea?' said the host, hovering over the samovar.

'haven't you a drop of vodka?'

the landlord held up hands of horror. 'monopolka?' (monopoly), he cried.

'haven't they left any jewish licenses?' asked david.

'not unless one mixed holy water with the vodka, like the baptized benjamin,' said the landlord with grim humour. he added hastily: 'but his inn is even fuller than mine, four beds in the room.'

it appeared that the dinner was already over, and david could obtain nothing but half-warmed remains. however, hunger and hope gave sauce to the miserable meal, and he profited by the absence of custom to pump the landlord anent the leading citizens.

'but you will not get violin lessons from any of them,' his host warned him. 'tinowitz the corn-factor has daughters who are said to read christian story-books, but is it likely he will risk their falling in love with a young man whose hair and clothes are cut like a christian's? not that i share his prejudices, of course. i have seen the great world, and understand that it is possible to carry a handkerchief on the sabbath and still be a good man.'

'i haven't come to give lessons in music,' said david bluntly, 'but in shooting.'

'shooting?' the landlord stared. 'aren't you a jew, then, sir? i beg your pardon.' his voice had suddenly taken on the same ring as when he addressed the poritz (polish nobleman). his oleaginous familiarity was gone.

'salachti!' (i have forgiven), said david in hebrew, and laughed at the man's bemused visage. 'don't [380]you think, considering what has been happening, it is high time the jews of milovka learned to shoot?'

the landlord looked involuntarily round the room for a possible spy. 'guard your tongue!' he murmured, terror-stricken.

david laughed on. 'you, my friend, shall be my first pupil.'

'god forbid! and i must beg you to find other lodgings.'

david smiled grimly at this first response to his mission. 'i dare say i shall find another stove,' he said cheerfully—at which the landlord, who had never in his life taken such a decisive step, began to think he had gone too far. 'you will take the advice of a man who knows the world,' he said in a tone of compromise, 'and throw all those crazy notions into the river where you cast your sins at new year. a young, fine-looking man like you! why, i can find you a shidduch (marriage) that will keep you in clover the rest of your life.'

'ha! ha! ha! how do you know i'm not married?'

'married men don't go shooting so lightheartedly. come, let me take you in hand; my commission is a very small percentage of the dowry.'

'ah, so you're a regular shadchan' (marriage-broker).

'and how else should i live? do you think i get fat on this inn? but people stay here from all towns around; i get to know a great circle of marriageable parties. i can show you a much larger stock than the ordinary shadchan.'

'but i am so link' (irreligious).

[381]'nu! let your ear-locks grow—the dowry grows with them.' mine host had quite recovered his greasy familiarity.

'i can't wait for my locks to grow,' said david, with a sudden thought. 'but if you care to introduce me to tinowitz, you will not fail to profit by it, if the thing turns out well.'

the landlord rubbed his hands. 'now you speak like a sage.'