"When I die will be time enough to talk about it," snarled Wilkinson. And thrusting his face now into that of the other, he demanded: "Come, what's the game? Lay your cards down on the table—out into the open. Why do you want a third ...?"
"Chiefly because I've earned it."
"Earned it! I took you out of the gutter, you ingrate!"
Flomerfelt shrugged his shoulders.
"If I haven't earned it so far, then I shall earn it in the future," he said.
"How?"
"By keeping silent in the presence of one person."
"Who?"
Flomerfelt smiled, but did not answer.