Barney had been hard to hold in leash in the old days; now that all ties of partnership were broken, he saw in those small gleaming eyes a defiance and a hatred that henceforth had no reason for restraint.

And he knew that Barney was shrewd, grimly tenacious, and limitless in self-confidence and ambition.
"And listen to this, too, Larry Brainard," Barney's temper carried him on.

"Don't you mix in and try any preaching on Maggie." He half turned his head jealously.

"Maggie, don't you listen to any of this boob's Salvation Army talk!" Maggie did not at once respond, but stood gazing at the two confronting figures.

To her they were an oddly dissimilar pair: Barney in the smartest clothes that an over-smart Broadway tailor could create, and Larry in the shapeless garments that were the State's gift to him on leaving prison.
"Maggie," he repeated, "don't you listen to this boob's talk!" "I'll do just as I please, Barney." "But you're going to come our way ?" he demanded.
"Of course." He turned back to Larry.