‘You’ve got to keep in mind what sort of people there are in the neighborhood,’ he began again. ‘It’s a new neighborhood. I happen to know that a lot of families moved here to get away from the old neighborhoods,’ he said with a tense look around his eyes, ‘and they naturally resent any … any … well you know what I mean.’

Finkelstein’s mouth opened a little wider, and he nodded just a little and stared at Newman.

‘If there were just a few with that point of view I’d say, stand your ground and stick it out here. But I don’t think you’ve got many friends around here, and I … well, frankly, I think you ought to think about moving. That’s my honest opinion.’

Finkelstein’s brows drew together. Newman could not bear his puzzled gaze and looked down at the floorboards again as though in thought. A moment passed. Another. He looked up and Finkelstein’s expression had changed; The man’s mouth was shut tight.

‘Are you a Jew, Mr Newman?’ Finkelstein asked.

Newman’s skin felt cold. ‘No,’ he said.

‘You’re nota Jew,’ Finkelstein said.

‘No,’ Mr Newman repeated, on the verge of anger.

‘But they think you are.’

‘Yes.’

‘Supposing I told you to move?’

‘That’s …’

‘Supposing I said to you, there’s too many people in this neighborhood who are looking like Jews. These ignoramuses don’t like it. Move, Mr Newman, because I wouldn’t have no peace until you do …’

‘I gave you my honest opinion and you …’

‘I’m giving you my honest opinion too,’ Finkelstein said, his voice quavering. His eyes were moist. ‘In my opinion they got you marked with indelible ink and it wouldn’t help you one penny’s worth if I …’

‘I don’t need any help,’ Newman said, his tone climbing indignantly.

‘I wasn’t born yesterday, Mr Newman.’ Finkelstein’s trouser legs started shaking. ‘I thought you was buying on Sundays from that roughneck because they made you buy. I thought no matter what you did you were my friend because you are a man with intelligence, an intelligent person. But you …’

‘I didn’t come in here to be insulted,’ Newman said, stiffly.

‘For God’s sake!’ Finkelstein burst out, his fists clenched. ‘Don’t you see what they’re doing? What the hell can they get out of the Jews? There’s a hundred and thirty million people in this country and a couple million is Jews. It’s you they want, not me. I’m … I’m,’ he started to stutter in his fury, ‘I’m chicken feed. I’m a no thin’. All I’m good for is so they can point to me and everybody else will give them their brains and their money, and then they will have the country. It’s a trick, it’s a racket. How many times must it happen, how many wars we got to fight in this world before you will understand what they are doing to you?’ Newman stood like a stone. ‘Move. You want me to move,’ Finkelstein said, his body trying to move about in the tiny store. ‘I will not move. I like it here. I like the air, I like it for my kids. I don’t know what I’ll do but I will not move. I don’t know how to fight them but I will fight them. This thing is organized for what they can get out of it. They are a gang of devils and they want this country. And if you had any regard for this country you wouldn’t tell me such a thing. I will not move, Mr Newman. I will not do it. I won’t.’