h had replied, deeply moved, "you are perfectly
right. If we cannot now mend our faults, we will not deceive ourselves
about them, but at least keep the way open for amendment."

So they had encouraged each other to clearer vision and nobler living.
And from such companionship to have fallen to a _Schnorrer's_! Oh, it
was unendurable.

But he endured it till harvest-time came round, bringing with it the
sacred season of New Year and Atonement, and the long chilly nights.
And then he began to feel tremors of religion and cold.

As they crouched together in outhouses, the beggar snoozing placidly
in a stout blouse, the philosopher shivering in tatters, Maimon saw
his degradation more lucidly than ever. They had now turned their
steps towards Poland, every day bringing Maimon nearer to the
redeeming influence of early memories, and it was when sleeping in the
Jewish poorhouse at Posen--the master of which eked out his
livelihood honorably as a jobbing tailor--that Maimon at length found
strength to resolve on a breach. He would throw himself before the
synagogue door, and either die there or be relieved. When his
companion awoke and began to plan out the day's campaign, "No, I
dissolve the partnership," said he firmly.

"But how are you going to live, you good-for-nothing?" asked his
astonished comrade, "you who cannot even beg."

"God will help," Maimon said stolidly.

"God help you!" said the beggar.

Maimon went off to the school-room. The master was away, and a noisy
rabble of boys ceased their games or their studies to question the
tatterdemalion, and to make fun of his Lithuanian accent--his _s_'s
for _sh_'s. Nothing abashed, the philosopher made inquiries after an
old friend of his who, he fortunately recollected, had gone to Posen
as the Chief Rabbi's secretary. The news that the Chief Rabbi had
proceeded to another appointment, taking with him his secretary,
reduced him to despair. A gleam of hope broke when he learnt that the
secretary's boy had been left behind in Posen with Dr. Hirsch Janow,
the new Chief Rabbi.

And in the event this boy brought salvation. He informed Dr. Hirsch
Janow that a great scholar and a pious man was accidentally fallen
into miserable straits; and lo! in a trice the good-hearted man had
sent for Maimon, sounded his scholarship and found it plumbless,
approved of his desire to celebrate the sacred festivals in Posen,
given him all the money in his pockets--the indurated beggar