"You shall only pretend to touch it.

All I want is to convince the others that it's against your interest to split.
Self-interest is the one motive they understand.

Your bare word would be good enough for me." "Suppose I won't give my bare word ?" said I, in a gentle manner which I did not mean to be as irritating as it doubtless was.

Yet his proposals and his assumptions were between them making me irritable in my turn.
"For Heaven's sake don't be such an idiot, Cole!" he burst out in a passion.

"You know I'm against the others, and you know what they want, yet you do your best to put me on their side! You know what they are, and yet you hesitate! For the love of God be sensible; at least give me your word that you'll hold your tongue for ever about all you know." "All right," I said.