Brusque as hell, the old Bialystoker had been, shoving through the crowds?? But for Charlie, it would always be the Manhattan Hat, the one Grandpa had worn a couple Decembers ago when they’d ridden into the City, just the two of them. Their cover story was a Rangers game, but what he’d made Charlie swear to keep his trap shut about was that they were going to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular instead. Brusque as hell, the old Bialystoker had been, shoving through the crowds. Honestly, Charlie didn’t see why all the cloak-and-dagger: no one was going to believe his grandpa would pay to see those shiksa hoofers anyway. Afterward, for an hour, maybe, they’d stood above the rink at Rockefeller Center, watching people skate. I would like to know what does "Brusque as hell, the old Bialystoker had been, shoving through the crowds." here mean. Thanks.