“You bet.... It’s eat or be eaten. Well, what do you say?”
“What should I say? I accept. Another Society like the Three.”
“Don’t make any comparisons. We don’t want to recall the other one. There’s no Bizco in this combination.”
“But there’s a Cripple.”
“Yes, but a Cripple who has guts.”
“Is he the chief of the party?”
“I’ll tell you the truth, kid.... I don’t know. I deal with the Cripple, the Cripple deals with the Master, and the Master with Lord knows whom. What I do know is that higher up, at the very top, there are some big guns. Let me give you one word of advice: see, hear, and keep your mouth shut. If you ever get wind of anything, let me know; outside, not a word. Understand?”
“I get you.”
“It’s all a matter of cleverness in this game,—keeping your eyes open and not letting anybody put anything over on you. If things go well, within a few years we can be on Easy street, as respectable as any one could wish.... A cinch....”