“No, they don’t,” Malone said. “They call you Cheese. I’ve got a research staff too.”
“So call me Cheese,” Manelli said. “I don’t mind.”
“There’s only one little trouble,” Malone said. “If I called you Cheese, you’d call me Ken. And word would get around.”
“I see what you mean,” Manelli said.
“I don’t think either one of us wants his associates to think we’re friends,” Malone said.
“I guess not,” Manelli said. “It would cause uneasiness.”
“And a certain lack of confidence,” Malone said. “So suppose I go on calling you Mr. Manelli?”
“Fine,” Manelli said. “And I’ll call you Mr. Malone, like always.”
Malone smiled and stood up. “Well, then,” he said, “goodbye, Mr. Manelli.”
Manelli rose, too. “Goodbye, Mr. Malone,” he said. “And good luck, if you really mean what you said.”