"But you cannot have any honourable bond with a man like that."
"What about honour among thieves? Even they recognize honour."
"But, are you a thief, that you want to shield yourself under their code?"
"No. I am no thief. I haven't a penny that isn't fairly mine. I told you I have no conscience, at least nothing that people are accustomed to call conscience; but do you think honour does not bind a man to a thief?"
"Surely not about the fruits of his theft."
"I have not looked at it in that way. When a man has no conscience, what binds him?"
"Nothing, except the law of the land, or handcuffs."
"Ah, that is your view. Well, it is not mine. Of course, I have not given you the man's real name or address. I gave you merely a fictitious name and address. Whom did I say? The Prince of Wales, was it, and Marlborough House, or the Prime Minister, and 10, Downing Street? Which was it? I forget."
"Well," said Hanbury, "can I do anything for you?"
"Are you going to Curzon Street on Thursday?"