“Naturally,” Abe agreed.  He scented what was coming.

“But anyhow, I says to Feder, I got it lots of friends in the trade, and I ain’t exactly broke yet, neither, Abe.”

He lifted his Swiss-cheese sandwich in his left hand, holding out the third finger the better to display a five-carat stone, while Abe devoted himself to his veal.

“Of course, Abe,” Hymie continued, “on the first of the month—­that’s only two weeks already—­things will be running easy for me.”

He looked at Abe for encouragement, but Abe’s facial expression was completely hidden by veal stew, fragments of which were clinging to his eyebrows.

“But, naturally, I’m at present a little short,” Hymie croaked, “and so I thought maybe you could help me out with, say a thousand dollars till the first of the month, say.”

Abe laid down his knife and fork and massaged his face with his napkin.

“For my part, Hymie,” he said, “you should have it in a minute.  I know it you are good as gold, and if you say that you will pay on the first of the month a U-nited States bond ain’t no better.”

He paused impressively and laid a hand on Hymie’s knee.

“Only, Hymie,” he concluded, “I got it a partner.  Ain’t it?  And you know Mawruss Perlmutter, Hymie.  He’s a pretty hard customer, Hymie, and if I was to draw you the firm’s check for a thousand, Hymie, that feller would have a receiver by the court to-morrow morning already.  He’s a holy terror, Hymie, believe me.”

Hymie sipped gloomily at his coffee.

“But Mawruss Perlmutter was always a pretty good friend of mine, Abe,” he said.  “Why shouldn’t he be willing to give it me if you are agreeable?  Ain’t it?  And, anyhow, Abe, it can’t do no harm to ask him.”

“Well, Hymie, he’s over at the store now,” Abe replied.  “Go ahead and ask him.”

“I know it what he’d say if I ask him, Abe.  He’d tell me I should see you; but you say I should see him, and then I’m up in the air.  Ain’t it?”

Abe treated himself to a final rubdown with the napkin and scrambled to his feet.

“All right, Hymie,” he said.  “If you want me I should ask him I’ll ask him.”

“Remember, Abe,” Hymie said as Abe turned away, “only till the first, so sure what I’m sitting here.  I’ll ring you up in a quarter of an hour.”

When Abe entered the firm’s show-room five minutes later he found Morris consuming the last of some crullers and coffee brought in from a near-by bakery by Jake, the shipping clerk.

“Well, Abe, maybe you think that’s a joke you should keep me here a couple of hours already,” Morris said.

“Many a time I got to say that to you already, Mawruss,” Abe rejoined.  “But, anyhow, I didn’t eat it so much, Mawruss.  It was Hymie Kotzen what keeps me.”

“Hymie Kotzen!” Morris cried.  “What for should he keep you, Abe?  Blows you to some tchampanyer wine, maybe?”