Peter had not said so in so many words--it was always with a jest
or a laugh that he corrected his faults, but he felt their truth
all the same.
For some minutes he leaned back in his chair, his eyes on the
ceiling; then he said in a tone of conviction:
"I WAS wrong about Mr. Cohen, Uncle Peter. I am always putting my
foot in it. He is an extraordinary man. He certainly is, to listen
to, whatever he is in his business."
"No, Jack, my boy--you were only honest," Peter rejoined, passing
over the covert allusion to the financial side of the tailor. "You
didn't like his race and you said so. Act first. Then you found
out you were wrong and you said so. Act second. Then you
discovered you owed him an ample apology and you bowed him out as
if he had been a duke. Act third. And now comes the epilogue--
Better be kind and human than be king! Eh, Jack?" and the old
gentleman threw back his head and laughed heartily.
Jack made no reply. He was through with Cohen;--something else
was on his mind of far more importance than the likes and dislikes
of all the Jews in Christendom.
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