The Malik's eyes narrow, and from his throat comes a brazen laugh.  "Stringent conditions indeed, if I may not report on what I've already learned and what a devil already knows.  Do you, perhaps, offer me some token of payment, if we are not to arrive at a purchase agreement after all?"

The Malik's eyes narrow, and from his throat comes a brazen laugh.  "Stringent conditions indeed, if I may not report on what I've already learned and what a devil already knows.  Do you, perhaps, offer me some token of payment, to cover the event where we do not arrive at a purchase agreement after all?"