"And what am I to expect?"
"You will have to dance to my tune, now, seeing that the tables have turned, as you say, and I am now the fiddler. I gave you warning of that."
"And I remember that I reminded you that should this thing occur, you would be honor bound to deal as honorably with me as I dealt with you, which you promised you would do."
"And he will keep his promise, sir," spoke up the young woman.
She looked at Captain Joaquin.
"Yes, of course," Captain Joaquin snarled. "At the same time, you must admit that self-preservation is the first law of nature. I must treat you as I would a rattlesnake, which, if I let it go, would turn and bite me."
"Is your former proposition still open?" asked Dick.
"What was that?"
"To join you."
"No, that is closed."