For a brief interval Birsky stared blankly at Adelstern.
"Especially now!" he exclaimed. "What are you talking about, especially now?"
"Why, ain't you heard?" Adelstern asked in feigned surprise.
"I ain't heard nothing," Birsky said hoarsely.
"Do you mean to told me," Finkman interrupted, "that you ain't heard it yet about Eschenbach?"
"I ain't heard nothing about Eschenbach," Birsky rejoined.
"Then read this," Finkman said, thrusting a marked copy of the Daily Cloak and Suit Review under Birsky's nose; and ringed in blue pencil was the following item:
Cordova, Ohio—Jonas Eschenbach to Retire. Jonas Eschenbach's department store is soon to pass into new hands, and Mr. Eschenbach will take up his future residence in the city of New York. Negotiations for the purchase of his business, which have been pending for some time, were closed Saturday, and Mr. Eschenbach has been summoned from New York, where he has been staying for the last few days, to conclude the details of the transaction. The purchaser's name has not yet been disclosed.
As Louis laid down the paper he beckoned to the waiter. "Never mind that Kalbfleisch," he croaked. "Bring me only a tongue sandwich and a cup coffee. I got to get right back to my store."
By a quarter to six that afternoon the atmosphere of Birsky & Zapp's office had been sufficiently cleared to permit a relatively calm discussion of Eschenbach's perfidy.