Another of Elmar's choice tidbits:

          Mrs. Ginsberg runs into Mrs. Plotnik and as they converse, Mrs. Ginsberg remarks, "That's a lovely diamond ring. So big."
         "This," says Mrs. Plotnik, "is the Plotnik diamond."
         "The Plotnik diamond?" says Mrs. Ginsberg. " That sounds romantic. Is there a story behind it?"
         "The diamond," says Mrs. Plotnik, "comes with a curse."
         "A curse?" gasps Mrs. Ginsberg, glancing apprehensively about her. "What is the curse?"   
         "Mr. Plotnik!"

Don Firth