The word 'palookas' is so disarming that he looks back at Marsh with a baffled expression for a moment before he can catch himself. Not that he doesn't know what it means, just that he hasn't heard anyone using slang he's familiar with yet.

So it means he's tuned in when the man keeps talking, and his confusion only rises. Those are all odd cliques, but at least they're somewhat self-explanatory, but- "Bigby?"