Willitts’ excitement instantly subsided; his answer showed a hurried urgence: "No, no—he didn’t say anything one could take ’old of—only a few questions. And it’s maybe all in my feelings. I couldn’t bear a person to think evil of Mr. Price. It ’urts me; I’d be sensitive; I might see it if it wasn’t there." "If you got that impression I guess it _was_ there." This remark, delivered with a sardonic dryness, appeared to rekindle Willitts’ anger. It flared up like the leap of a flame: "Then to ’ell with ’im. If they’re working up any dirty suspicions against my gentleman they’ve come to the wrong man. I’ve got nothing to say; there’s no information to be wormed out of _me_ for I ’ave none. Umph—lies, trickery—that’s what _I_ call it!" He dropped back into his former position, his angry breathings loud on the silence, mutterings of rage breaking through them. "Well," said Mr. Larkin, "now I’ve put you wise you can form your own conclusion as to what’s in their minds." "Is it in yours, too?" The question came quick, shot out between the deep-drawn breaths. Mr. Larkin was ready for it: "I told you I hadn’t got as far as that; I’m just feeling my way. But let me say something to you." He rose and, going to the steps, sat down beside Willitts, dropping his voice to a confidential key. "I’ll be frank with you—I’ll show you how I stand. I didn’t intend to tell you what I was, but this fellow coming up here has forced my hand. He knows me, he’ll be after you again, and you’d have found it out. Now, here’s my position: I want to get this case; it’s my first big one and it’ll make me every way—professionally and financially." He looked at the man beside him who, gazing into the street, nodded without speaking. "There’s ten thousand dollars offered for the restoration of the jewels. If I could get them I’d share that money with the person who—who—er—helped." Willitts repeated his silent nod. "And even if I didn’t get them I’d pay and pay well for any information that would be useful." "I see," said the other, "’oever ’elps along in the good work gets ’is reward." Mr. Larkin did not like the words or the tone, but went on, his confidential manner growing persuasive: "I’m engaged on the side of law and order. All I’m trying to do is to restore stolen property to its owner. Any one that helps me is only doing his duty." "A duty that gets its dues, as you might say." "Exactly. The money made by such services is earned honestly and there’s plenty of it to earn." "Righto! When the Janneys want a thing they’ll open the purse wide and generous."