In the Best Families

“I thought you might have. I've only been around the big town a couple of years, and I don't toot a horn, but some people get talked about. How much has Wolfe been paying you?

That's asking, I objected mildly. “I wouldn't want it to get in the papers.

I've been eating all right and I've got a government bond. Anything over-

Footsteps in the corridor stopped at our door, and the turnkey's voice came. “Mr

Christy! They want you down in the office.

My mate stayed flat. “Come back in ten minutes, Wilkes, he called. “I'm busy.

I confirmed it. “We're in conference, Wilkes, I snapped.

“But I think it's your out.

“I suppose so. Come back in ten minutes.

Wilkes, mumbling something, went away. Christy resumed. “You were saying…

“Yeah. That anything over fifty grand a year would find me a good listener.

“I'm being serious, Goodwin.

“So am I.

“You are not. You never got within a mile of fifty grand a year. His head was turned to face me now. “Anyway, it's not a question of so many grand a year-not in this business.

“In what business?

“The business I'm in. What did I say my name is?

“Max Christy.

“Then what more do you want? Take my being here now, for example. I got raked in at the Covered Porch yesterday by mistake, but I would have been loose in an hour if it hadn't been Sunday-and Easter too. Here it is- he looked at his wrist-not quite noon, and I'm walking out. There has never been an organisation to compare with it. For a man like you there would be special jobs and special opportunities if you once got taken in. With your record, which is bad as far as

I know it, that would take a while. You would have to show, and show good. Your idea about so many grand a year just isn't realistic, certainly not while you're being tried, but after that it would depend on you. If you've got it in you there's practically no limit. Another thing is income tax.

“Yeah, what about income tax?

“You simply use your judgment. Say Wolfe paid you thirty grand a year, which he didn't, nothing like it, what did you have to say about income tax? Nothing. It was taken out before you got paid. You never even saw it. In this business you make your own decisions about it. You want to be fair and you want to be in the clear, but you don't want to get gypped, and on that basis you use your judgment.