Зима тревоги нашей

           ButforsomereasonhavingtodowithMissElgar’sunusualfeelingabouttime,hehadgotholdofhimself.It’shardtoknowhowsimpleorcomplicatedamanis.Whenyoubecometoosure,you’reusuallywrong.Ithink,fromhabitandpractice,Marullohadreducedhisapproachestomentothree:command,flattery,andpurchase.Andthethreemusthaveworkedoftenenoughtoallowhimtodependonthem.Somewhereinhisdealingwithmehehadlostthefirst.

           "You’reagoodkid,"hesaid."You’reagoodfriendtoo."

           "OldCap’n,hewasmygrandfather,usedtosay,‘Ifyouwanttokeepafriendnevertesthim.’"

           "That’ssmart."

           "Hewassmart."

           "AlloverSundayIbeenthinking,kid—eveninchurchIwasthinking."

           Iknewhehadbeenworriedaboutthekickback,atleastIthoughthehad,soIjumpeditouttosavehimtime.

           "Aboutthatfinepresent,huh?"

           "Yeah."Helookedatmewithadmiration."You’resmarttoo."

           "Notsmartenoughtobeworkingformyself."

           "Youbeenherehowlong—twelveyears?"

           "That’sit—toolong.’Bouttimeforachange,don’tyouthink?"

           "Andyounevertooknoneofthepettycashandyounevertooknothinghomewithoutyouwroteitdown."

           "Honestyisaracketwithme."

           "Don’tmakenojoke.WhatIsayistrue.Icheck.Iknow."

           "Youmaypinthemedalonmyleftlapel."

           "Everybodysteals—somemore,someless—butnotyou.Iknow!"

           "MaybeI’mwaitingtostealthewholething."

           "Don’tmakejokes.WhatIsayistrue.