He understood the Yiddish which old Hyams almost invariably used, though he did not speak it himself.
Contrariwise, old Hyams understood much more English than he spoke.
"You have married Hannah Jacobs." There was a painful silence, dim recollections surging in everybody's brain.
"Married Hannah Jacobs!" repeated Samuel incredulously.
"Yes," affirmed old Hyams.

"What you have done constitutes a marriage according to Jewish law.

You have pledged yourself to her in the presence of two witnesses." There was another tense silence.

Samuel broke it with a boisterous laugh.
"No, no, old fellow," he said; "you don't have me like that!" The tension was relaxed.

Everybody joined in the laugh with a feeling of indescribable relief.