You take the tone of a social Dick Turpin, and might as well hold a pistol to my head while you're about it.

Don't alarm yourself.

I have told you I will do what I can for you.

I cannot, and I shall not, say more." The two men looked at each other.

They were in the habit of taking the measure of all creation in their own eminently practical way, and each took the other's measure now.