"Sure, I know," Philip concluded, "but when a feller has got such a partner which he is a smart, up-to-date feller and means good by his partner, understand me, then I got a right to take an advice from him about family matters, ain't it?"
And with these honeyed words the subject of the Borrochson family's assisted emigration was dismissed until the arrival of another letter from Minsk some four weeks later.
"Well, Marcus," Philip cried after he had read it, "he'll be here Saturday."
"Who'll be here Saturday?" Polatkin asked.
"Borrochson," Philip replied; "and the boy comes with him."
Polatkin raised his eyebrows.
"I'll tell you the honest truth, Philip," he said—"I'm surprised to hear it."
"What d'ye mean you're surprised to hear it?" Philip asked. "Ain't I am sending him the passage tickets?"
"Sure, I know you are sending him the tickets," Polatkin continued, "but everybody says the same, Philip, and that's why I am telling you, Philip, I'm surprised to hear he is coming; because from what everybody is telling me it's a miracle the feller ain't sold the tickets and gambled away the money."
"What are you talking nonsense, selling the tickets!" Philip cried indignantly. "The feller is a decent, respectable feller even if he would be a poor man."