“No use harking back to that, Maclin,” he said: “some things ain’t common property, you know, even between you and me. We agreed to that.”
“Yes?” the word came softly. Was it apologetic or threatening?
There was a pause. Then Maclin unbent.
“Larry,” he began, tossing his cigar aside, “you haven’t ever given me full credit, my boy, for what I’ve tried to do for you. See here, old man, I have got you out of more than one fix, haven’t I?”
Larry looked back––the way was not a pleasant one.
“Yes,” he admitted, “yes, you have, Maclin.”
“I know you often get fussed, Rivers, about what you term my using you in business, but I swear to you that in the end you’ll think different about that. I’ve got to work under cover myself to a certain extent. I’m not my own master. But this I can say––I’m willing to be a part of a big thing. 90 When the public is taken into our confidence, we’ll all feel repaid. Can you––do you catch on, Larry?”
“It’s like catching on to something in the dark,” Larry muttered.
“Well, that’s something,” Maclin said cheerfully. “Something to hold to in the dark isn’t to be sneered at.”
“Depends upon what it is!” Apparently Larry was in a difficult mood. Maclin tried a new course.