CROSSING PARIS
539
"Let's hurry, boys," he said, in a voice which he tried to make
cordial, but which grated in spite of him. "Remember that it's
beginning to get late. To be there by midnight, you've got no time
to play."
"Just a minute, Boss. We'd better have an understanding from
the start. You're giving us how much?"
Their employer raised his brows. He seemed to be surprised
and hurt. "Listen, Martin," he said, "a bargain's a bargain. We are
aU men of honor in this affair."
"When it comes to honor,!']] defy anybody to outdo me," de–
clared Martin. "On the other hand, I'm not rich enough to be
making you presents, either. You know, I've worked for you with
Letambot. For delivering either in Temple Street or at Charonne,
we got three hundred francs apiece. And we earned every bit of it.
Galloping through the streets at night carrying more than a hun–
dred pounds, what with the shoes you wear out, and everywhere
the risk of the cops, all that for not more than three hundred
francs ... the way I look at it, it's not such high pay."
Jamblier was trying to put up a good front and take everything
goodnaturedly, but he felt himself getting annoyed, not only by
Martin's words, but even more by the attentive and slightly ironical
silence of the man with the ram's head.
"Looking at the thing fairly," he said, "it's three hundred francs
quickly earned, you can't deny that."
"I'm not arguing the question. Let's say that the pay is fair.
Let's say it is. Once more, I don't mean to argue. A bargain's a
bargain. I've got just one more thing to say."
"Well?"
"Just tell me-delivering in Temple Street, and delivering at
Montmartre, those are two different things. Right?"
"O.K.," agreed Jamblier. "You get fifty francs more. But let's
hurry."
Once more he put out his hand to take the valise. This time,
Martin put it behind
him
on the concrete, and said in a dry tone:
"I didn't ask you for a tip. All I want is fair pay for the trouble
and the risk. To deliver your pig in Caulaincourt Street will be six
hundred francs apiece, or . . . goodnight."
