‘The other day,’ Mr Finkelstein began carefully, ‘a colored man – I never seen him before – he comes into the store for Camels. I ain’t got Camels and I tell him I ain’t got them. “Who you savin’ them for?” he says, “the Goldbergs?” If we was outside the store I would have hit him with a box. On times like that I get a certain feeling about those people. To me they ain’t regular. But I try to stop my thoughts about them. I say to myself; after all, how many colored people do I know? Better I should be saying, this colored person and that one I don’t like. But I got no right I shall condemn the whole people because I don’t know the whole people, you understand me? If I never seen California redwood trees what right I got to say they ain’t so big? You understand me? - I got no right.’

They crossed a street, and Mr Finkelstein went on. ‘So what I don’t understand is this – mind you this is information I’m asking, not favors from you. You understand?’

‘Yes,’ said Mr Newman. He realized that the man was still taking him as one of the Front. It relieved him, for he had a lurking fear that Mr Finkelstein was about to embrace him as a brother. And now he found he was more at ease with this Jew, for he was not imposing after all.’ I understand what you mean,’ he said.

‘What I don’t understand is how so many people can get worked up to such a pitch about Jews when in that whole hall there ain’ t a person who knows – himself personally – more than three Jews to speak to. Before you answer me – I understand how a person can hate a whole people because I myself slip into the same thing when I forget myself. But I don’t understand how they can get excited enough to go sit in a meeting on such a hot night for the purpose they shall get rid of the Jews. To have a … a disliking is one thing. But to go to work and put yourself out like that … I don’t understand it. What’s the answer to that?’

Mr Newman shifted his rolled-up jacket to his other arm. ‘Most of them aren’t very intelligent,’ he said, peaking his brows judiciously.

‘Yeh, but I seen some there that looked more intelligent than me. If you don’t mind my saying, I think you’re a man of education yourself …’ He hesitated and then said rapidly, ‘I want to lay things out on the board, Mr Newman. Not I shall ask you for favors, just man to man I want to understand. If you don’t mind you shall discuss with me. Why do you want I shall get out of the neighborhood?’

He was breathing harder and was beginning to sniff.

‘Well, it’s not you particularly …’ Newman felt embarrassment now, for in the face of Finkelstein’s bold question he somehow could not spell out his heart’s answer.