"_Nu!_" Redman said at length. "What's the matter you are acting so quiet this afternoon?"
"What d'ye mean I am acting quiet, Mr. Redman?" Elkan asked. "I am thinking--that's all. Without a feller would think once in a while, Mr. Redman, he remains a cutter all his life."
"There's worser things as cutters," Redman commented. "For instance--assistant cutters."
"Sure, I know," Elkan agreed; "but salesmen is a whole lot better as cutters _oder_ assistant cutters. A salesman sees life, Mr. Redman. He meets oncet in a while people, Mr. Redman; while, with us, what is it? We are shut up here like we would be sitting in prison--ain't it?"
"You ain't got no kick coming," Redman said. "A young feller only going on eighteen, understand me, is getting ten dollars a week and he kicks yet. Sitting in prison, _sagt er_! Maybe you would like the concern they should be putting in moving pictures here or a phonygraft!"
Elkan sighed heavily by way of reply and for a quarter of an hour longer he worked in quietness, until Redman grew worried at his assistant's unusual taciturnity.
"What's the trouble you ain't talking, Lubliner?" he said. "Don't you feel so good?"
Elkan looked up. He was about to say that he felt all right when suddenly he received the germ of an inspiration, and in the few seconds that he hesitated it blossomed into a well-defined plan of action. He therefore emitted a faint groan and laid down his shears.
"I got a _krank_ right here," he said, placing his hand on his left side. "Ever since last week I got it."
"Well, why don't you say something about it before?" Redman cried anxiously; for be it remembered that Elkan Lubliner was not only the cousin of Marcus Polatkin but the adopted nephew of Philip Scheikowitz as well. "You shouldn't let such things go."
"The fact is," Elkan replied, "I didn't want to say nothing about it to Mr. Polatkin on account he's got enough to worry him with this here Appenweier & Murray's account; and----"
"You got that account on the brain," Redman interrupted. "If you don't feel so good you should go home. Leave me fix it for you."
As he spoke he hastily buttoned on his collar and left the cutting room, while Elkan could not forego a delighted grin. After all, he reflected, he had worked steadily for over a year and a half with only such holidays as the orthodox ritual ordained; and he was so busy making plans for his first afternoon of freedom that he nearly forgot to groan again when Redman came back with Marcus Polatkin at his heels.