"
"What was I going to say?"
"You were going to say there was risk, and I must not scare it."
"Partner, you are a mind reader."
"I can read your mind when it runs in a generous direction."
"It is not a matter of generosity but of precaution. Those fellows look
like a desperate trio."
"Certainly, but they are off their guard."
"They are?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Oh, you know well enough, we've acted so as to throw them off. Do you
know how they have measured us?"
"I have an idea. What is yours?"
"They think you are a flat."
"That's certain."
"They think I am playing you."
"Right again."
"They think a slight rap on the ear will send you squealing."
"Yes, that's correct."
"Then they will go through me, and as I am, as they believe, a thief
like themselves they fear no risk from me."
"Admitting what you say is true----"
"We will give them a great surprise."
"Sure, but after they discover their mistake----"
"It will be too late for them to do any harm. We will have them
flattened out, or we will have forgotten an old way of managing these
things. Oscar, it is a great thing to meet an antagonist who really
underrates you."
"That is true."
"And so in this deal I tell you I think we are on a better lay than we
are aware of.
Pages:
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29