Baruch Emanuel was visibly conscious of his inferiority, to his powerful rival, though Moses had never heard of Mordecai Schwartz before.

He entered the shop and said in Hebrew "Peace be to you." Baruch Emanuel, hammering a sole, answered in Hebrew: "Peace be to you." Moses dropped into Yiddish.
"I am looking for work.

Peradventure have you something for me ?" "What can you do ?" "I have been a riveter." "I cannot engage any more riveters." Moses looked disappointed.
"I have also been a clicker," he said.
"I have all the clickers I can afford," Baruch answered.
Moses's gloom deepened.

"Two years ago I worked as a finisher." Baruch shook his head silently.

He was annoyed at the man's persistence.
There was only the laster resource left.
"And before that I was a laster for a week," Moses answered.
"I don't want any!" cried Baruch, losing his temper.
"But in your window it stands that you do," protested Moses feebly.
"I don't care what stands in my window," said Baruch hotly.