"But, Uncle! We may not eat milk after meat."
"Well, well, then, little Rabbi!" And Uriel pushed his plate away and
pinched the child's ear fondly.
But when the child went home he prattled of his uncle's
transgressions, and Joseph hurried down, storming at this misleading
of his boy, and this breach of promise to the synagogue. Uriel
retorted angrily with that native candor of his which made it
impossible for him long to play a part.
"I am but an ape among apes," he said, using his pet private sophism.
"Say rather an ape among lynxes, who will spy thee out," said Joseph,
more hotly. "Thy double-dealing will be discovered, and I shall become
the laughing-stock of the congregation."
It was the beginning of a second quarrel--fiercer, bitterer than the
first. Joseph denounced Uriel privily to Dom Diego, who thundered at
the heretic in his turn.
"I give not my daughter to an ape," he retorted, when Uriel had
expounded himself as usual.
"Ianthe loves the ape; 'tis her concern," Uriel was stung into
rejoining.
"Nay, 'tis my concern. By Heaven, I'll grandsire no gorillas!"
"Methinks in Porto thou wast an ape thyself," cried Uriel, raging.
"Dog!" shrieked the old physician, his venerable countenance
contorted; "dost count it equal to deceive the Christians and thine
own brethren?" And he flung from the house.