"You can drop to a big sum."
"How big?"
"Three or four thousand."
The detective smiled, and answered
"I'm in for more than that; remember the value of what's in your storehouse on the island."
"You have that down?"
"I've been in there; your crew know it by this time if they have rummaged around any. I was there when you decided to come on to New York and notify your principals."
The smuggler gazed at the detective with an expression of wonderment upon his face,
"You were there?"
"Yes."