"Maybe I was takin' a walk," Murk answered.
"And maybe you were spying, as I happen to know you were. We assume that Sidney Prale sent you to watch the comings and goings of a certain young woman and her friends."
"Go right ahead assumin'."
"It will avail you nothing, my man, to adopt this attitude," Murk was told. "And it might help you a great deal if you are willing to listen to reason."
"I'm listenin'," Murk replied.
"You haven't been working for Sidney Prale very long, have you?"
"Only a few days—since you seem to know all about it, anyway. Why ask foolish questions?"
"Very well. We understand that Prale kept you from committing suicide and then gave you a job. There is no reason why you should feel an overwhelming gratitude for Prale. He merely got a valet cheap."
"What about it?" Murk growled.
"Sidney Prale has a million dollars, but you'll never see much of it. He isn't the sort of man to toss his money away. And there are others, not particularly Prale's friends, who have many millions between them."