"They—" Larkin hesitated. How much did he dare reveal? This Martian had most penetrating and discerning eyes. "They hope to trade."
"Ah." Malovar was quiet for a long time. "My friend, you have been here and I have known you for seven years. During this time I have been pleased to call you friend."
"I have been honored." Larkin spoke. "They have been most enjoyable years." Why was this feeling of sweat suddenly appearing on his body? The room was cool almost to the point of being chilly now that the night had come.
"You have helped many of us. Seekin was in here this afternoon—"
"It was nothing," Larkin said, embarrassed.
"Many times you have done this deed which you call nothing," Malovar continued. "I just wanted you to know that I was aware of some of these instances."
"It is good of you to mention them," Larkin said. He did not like this sparring, this talk that seemed to go nowhere.
"I wanted you to know that at the next time of the testing these deeds which you call nothing will be taken into consideration," Malovar said.
Sweat broke out all over Boyd Larkin.
"They will be given due weight, but they will not sway the scales in your favor against other possible deeds."