"It's a scavenger's job," said Cranbourne. "And you can't get away from that."
"Without conflict there would be no progress."
Cranbourne shook his head angrily.
"What right have we to control other men's destinies?" he said. "Where is the justice that puts such men as ourselves in command?"
"Opportunity does that, not justice," said Mr. Torrington slowly. "My first employment was cleaning windows. I saw a man, who was so engaged, fall from a fourth floor sill into the street. I picked him up dead, carried him into the building and I asked for his job. A nasty story isn't it?"
Cranbourne snorted.
"It covers us all," he said. "We spend our lives robbing flowers from cemeteries, keeping our souls in our trousers pockets along with the other small change. Hullo!"
Doran opened the door and announced Nugent Cassis. That meant that all over the town clocks would be striking eleven.
"Any news?" he rapped out.
"None."