nine o'clock before
There Ortelsburg descanted on the comparatively high elevation of Linden Boulevard and Mrs. Ortelsburg pointed out the chicken-raising possibilities of the back lot ; and , after gazing at the shrubbery and incipient shade trees that were planted in the front yard , the line of march was resumed in the direction of Burgess Park 's business neighbourhood . Another pause was made at Mrs. J. Kaplin 's delicatessen store ; and , laden with packages of smoked tongue , Swiss cheese and dill pickles , the procession returned to the Ortelsburg residence marshalled by Benno Ortelsburg , who wielded as a baton a ten-cent loaf of rye bread . Thus the remainder of the evening was spent in feasting and more pinocle until nearly midnight , when Elkan and Yetta returned to town on the last train . Hence , with his late homecoming and the Ortelsburgs ' delicatessen supper , Elkan slept ill that night , so that it was past nine o'clock before he arrived at his office the following morning . Instead of the satirical greeting which he anticipated from his senior partner , however , he was received with unusual cordiality by Polatkin , whose face was spread in a grin . `` Well , Elkan , '' he said , `` you done a good job when you decided to buy that house . '' `` When I decided to buy the house ?