But the engineer was maintaining his consideration of objects on the outside of the window.
"So you're trying to hold me up," was Gretzinger's remark.
"You're slicing the fat off Bryant, and therefore I'll trim a bit off you," Carrigan replied.

"You're not the only one who can work a knife.
Once I used to sit back and let others keep all the easy money, but I don't any more, not any more." With considerable relish he rolled the words upon his tongue and nodded at Gretzinger.
The latter scowled.
"How much do you want ?" he demanded.
Pat spat, then remained pursing his lips while he engaged in calculation.

Once he shook his head and muttered, "Not enough," and again after a time repeated the words.

The man by the stove glared at the seated contractor during the prolonged period of study as if he hoped his look would consume him.
"How much ?" he questioned a second time, impatiently.
Pat looked up at Gretzinger from under his bushy eyebrows with a steely glint showing.

The lines of his weather-beaten face had hardened.
"I don't like you," he stated.