"We have in Europe a peculiar situation," he says. "England and France, although hitched to the same wagon, pull in different directions. England must build up her trade. France must build up her morale. These involve different efforts. To build up her trade England must re-establish Germany. To build up her morale France must see that Germany is not re-established and that it remains forever a beaten enemy." The great financier looks at his watch suddenly. "By Jove!" he says. "By Jove!" He has to go. He is sorry the interview was a failure. But a rotten day for thinking. Back into his raincoat. A limousine has drawn up. A servant helps him to dress. In a moment another umbrella has joined the crawl of umbrellas over the pavement. It rains. And a great financier is riding home to dinner. PITZELA'S SON "His name?" said Feodor Mishkin. "Hm! Always you want names. Is life a matter of names and addresses or is it something else?" "But the story would be better, Feodor, with names in it." The rotund and omniscient journalist from the west side muttered to himself in Russian. "Better!" he repeated. "And why better? If I tell you his name is Yankel or Berella or Chaim Duvit do you know any more than if I tell you his name is Pitzela?" "No. We will drop the matter. I will call him Chaim Yankel." "You will call him Chaim Yankel! And what for? His name is Pitzela and not Chaim Yankel." "Thanks." "You can go anywhere on Maxwell Street and ask anybody you meet do they know Pitzela and they will say: 'Do we know Pitzela? We know Pitzela all right.' So what is there to be gained by calling him Chaim Yankel?" "Nothing, Feodor. It was a mistake even to think of it." "It was. Well, as I was telling you before you began this interruption about names, he is exactly 110 years old. Can you imagine a man 110 years old? A man 110 years old is an unusual thing, isn't it?" "It is, Feodor. But I once knew a man 113 years old." "Ha! And what kind of a man was he? Did he dance jigs? Did he crack nuts with his teeth? Did he drink like a fish?" "No, he was an old man and very sad." "You see! He was sad. So what has he to do with Pitzela? Nothing. Pitzela laughs all day long. And he dances jigs. And he cracks nuts with his teeth. Mind you, a man 110 years old cracks nuts with his teeth! Can you imagine such a thing?" "No Feodor. It is amazing." "Amazing? Why amazing? Everything that happens different from what you know is amazing to you! You are very naïve. You know what naïve means? It is French." "I know what naïve means, Feodor. Go on about Pitzela." "Naïve means to be childish late in life. In a way you are like Pitzela, despite the difference in your ages. He is naïve. You know what he wants?" "What?"