"And even if I didn't get them I'd pay and pay well for any information that would be useful."
"I see," said the other, "'oever 'elps along in the good work gets 'is reward."
Mr. Larkin did not like the words or the tone, but went on, his confidential manner growing persuasive:
"I'm engaged on the side of law and order. All I'm trying to do is to restore stolen property to its owner. Any one that helps me is only doing his duty."
"A duty that gets its dues, as you might say."
"Exactly. The money made by such services is earned honestly and there's plenty of it to earn."
"Righto! When the Janneys want a thing they'll open the purse wide and generous."
"And here's a point worth noticing: What I'm hired for is to get the jewels, not the thief. The party behind me isn't out for vengeance or prosecution. If I could deliver the goods it would be all right and no questions asked. But the Whitneys wouldn't stop there—they're bloodhounds when it comes to the chase. If they got anything on Price they'd come down on him good and hard and Mrs. Janney'd stand in with them."
He was looking with anxious intentness at Willitts' profile. As he finished it turned slowly, until the face was offered in full to his watchful scrutiny. It was forbidding, the eyes sweeping him with a cold contempt:
"I can't 'elp understanding you, Larkin, and I'm sorry to 'ear you got your suspicions of my gentleman and of me. The first is too low to take notice of; the second is as bad, but I'll answer it to put us both straight. I'm not the kind you take me for; I'm not to be bought. Even if I did know anything that would be 'useful' as you say, wild 'orses wouldn't drag it out of me. And no more will filthy lucre. Filthy—it's the right name for it, you couldn't get a better." He rose, not so much angry as hurt and haughty. "I can't find it in me to sit 'ere any longer. I could talk of insults, but I won't. All I'll say is that I've 'ad a bit too much, and not wanting to 'ear more I'll bid you good-night."