A little later in that same week, when Marcus and McTeague were
taking lunch at the car conductors' coffee-joint, the former suddenly
exclaimed:
"Say, Mac, now that you've got Trina, you ought to do more for her. By
damn! you ought to, for a fact. Why don't you take her out somewhere--to
the theatre, or somewhere? You ain't on to your job."
Naturally, McTeague had told Marcus of his success with Trina. Marcus
had taken on a grand air.
"You've got her, have you? Well, I'm glad of it, old man. I am, for a
fact. I know you'll be happy with her. I know how I would have been. I
forgive you; yes, I forgive you, freely."
McTeague had not thought of taking Trina to the theatre.
"You think I ought to, Mark?" he inquired, hesitating. Marcus answered,
with his mouth full of suet pudding:
"Why, of course. That's the proper caper."
"Well--well, that's so. The theatre--that's the word."
"Take her to the variety show at the Orpheum. There's a good show there
this week; you'll have to take Mrs. Sieppe, too, of course," he added.
Marcus was not sure of himself as regarded certain proprieties, nor, for
that matter, were any of the people of the little world of Polk Street.
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