Without looking up from the papers, and while shifting the newly signed page to one side to dry while he reviews the next, he says, "I don't suppose we can cut his hand off and send him on his way."
Which is more of a statement than question really.
Flint's sniff is narrow, a short breath in. It is not without irritation. It is not, for lack of a better word, completely unamused either, though the tang in the air it leaves has an over steeped bitterness to it.
"In that case, we may as well slacken our grip on him here in the Gallows. He should continue work in the company of others outside it, but so long as he's here on the island there can be little reason to nurse him along. Either he will find his way, or he will hurt someone. Then we may at least have some basis on which to take a decisive action."
Better to lose two people—a murderer and whatever bait is unlucky enough to land on the hook—than to send the whole company preemptively clutching pearls over the treatment of Rifters, is not a thing James Flint would say aloud.
no subject
Which is more of a statement than question really.
—Unless?
no subject
But the direction of it—
"Depends on how badly he continues to irritate the company," implies that his aim isn't across the desk.
mea culpa. no worries if this is too old.
"In that case, we may as well slacken our grip on him here in the Gallows. He should continue work in the company of others outside it, but so long as he's here on the island there can be little reason to nurse him along. Either he will find his way, or he will hurt someone. Then we may at least have some basis on which to take a decisive action."
Better to lose two people—a murderer and whatever bait is unlucky enough to land on the hook—than to send the whole company preemptively clutching pearls over the treatment of Rifters, is not a thing James Flint would say aloud.