He gives it all away the next day, and then we have Guthrie
doubling the price. Queer, I tell you, Isaac--extraordinary,
that's what it is--almost uncanny."
The Jew threw away his cigar, rested his short elbows on the arms
of his chair, and made a basket of his hands, the tips of all his
fingers touching.
"No, you are wrong, my good friend. It is not extraordinary and it
is not uncanny. It is very simple--exceedingly simple. Nobody
runs over a child if he can help it. Even a thief will bring you
back your pocket-book if you trust him to take care of it. It is
the trusting that does it. Few men, no matter how crooked, can
resist the temptation of reaching, if only for a moment, an honest
man's level."
CHAPTER XXXIII
Peter's coat was finished in time for the wedding--trust Isaac
for that--and so was his double-breasted white waistcoat--he had
not changed the cut in twenty years; and so were his pepper-and-
salt trousers and all his several appointments, little and big,
even to his polka-dot scarf of blue silk, patent-leather shoes and
white gaiters.
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