"Why've we come here, anyway, I'd like to know?" Blott asked. "Our man'll not cross this cursed valley, an' while we're foolin' away our time he'll pass, an' so we'll lose him."
"There you go again, Blott! I told you he was not to start till one o'clock? So we have time and to spare," Burke answered, in his low, purring way.
"How do you know he'll not start till one? Or how do you know he's comin' at all, for that matter?" Blott replied.
"How did I know Hogge was coming this way that rainy night, or how do I know other things that are going on in the world that interest me?" Burke answered.
"Well, how do you?"
"Because I have a man on the outside whose interest it is to tell me. You don't suppose I trust everything to chance, do you?" Burke answered.
"You devil! Who's the man?"
"Well, I like that, Blott, I like that; and you an old constable, too! Why don't you ask me to give myself up; to put a halter around my neck?"
"If we're to be pards, Burke, you must trust me, for I'll know who's pullin' the strings or I won't go on."
"We are not going to be partners, Blott; or only in this. Why should we?"