"You are a clever fellow, Rover, and your school training does you credit. However, I don't know as any of us expect to get tripped up."
"No criminal does until he is caught."
"There may be something in that. But I am willing to take my chances.
As the old saying goes: 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained.'"
"But wouldn't you rather venture on the right side?"
"You want me to come to terms; is that it?"
"We do. We can make it worth your while, if you will help us and help bring the Baxters to justice. Do you know that Arnold Baxter is an escaped convict, who got out of a New York prison on a forged pardon?"
"No, I know very little of the man."
"He is a bad one, and his son is little better. Standing in with them is a serious business. I don't know much about you, but you don't look like a man who is bad by choice."
At this the captain of the Peacock let out a light laugh. "You talk as if you were a man of deep experience instead of a mere boy."
"I have had some experience, especially with bad folks—not only in this country, but in Africa, so that gives me an age not counted by years. To my mind it seems that a man ought to be more willing to make money honestly than dishonestly."