The thing was just bad business.

Such a woman makes but comparatively little; and what is worse, if she chooses, she makes it all for herself.

And Barney, in his cynical wisdom of his poor world, further knew that the average man enticed into this poor trap, after the woman has said yes, and after the first brief freshness has lost its bloom, becomes a tight-wad and there is little real money to be got from him for any one.
"It's like this: once we've got this Sherwood bird safely hooked," expanded Barney with the air of an authority, flicking off his cigarette ash with his best restaurant manner, "we can play the game a hundred ways.

But the marriage proposition is the best bet, and there are two best ways of working that." "Which d'you think we ought to use, Barney ?" inquired Old Jimmie.
But Barney went on as if the older man had not asked a question.

"Both ways depend upon Sherwood being crazy in love, and upon his coming across with a proposal and sticking to it.