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There were many players of the dulcimer, but none of them dared

to perform in Jankiel's presence. (Jankiel had been spending the

whole winter no one knows where; now he had suddenly made his

appearance along with the General Staff.) Everybody knew that no

one could compare with him in playing that instrument, either in

skill, taste, or talent. They begged him to play and offered him

the dulcimer; the Jew refused, saying that his hands had grown

stiff, that he was out of practice, that he did not dare to, that

he was embarrassed by the men of high station; with many a bow he

was stealing away. When Zosia saw this, she ran up, and with one

white hand proffered him the hammers with which the master was

wont to sound the strings; with the other hand she stroked the

old man's grey beard, and said with a curtsy:-

"Jankiel, be so good; you see this is my betrothal; play for me,

Jankiel. Haven't you often promised to play at my wedding?"