At first McTeague was unaware of it; but by this time even his slow wits began to perceive that his best friend--his "pal"-- was not the same to him as formerly.

They continued to meet at lunch nearly every day but Friday at the car conductors' coffee-joint.

But Marcus was sulky; there could be no doubt about that.

He avoided talking to McTeague, read the paper continually, answering the dentist's timid efforts at conversation in gruff monosyllables.

Sometimes, even, he turned sideways to the table and talked at great length to Heise the harness-maker, whose table was next to theirs.