How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
'Your father! But what have I told you already? You'll find fathers enough, I said, down in the gorge! That's no turn of phrase—it's custom, and necessity—it's the way that things are done! Let me tell you what counts for shame on the diggings. Cry a false field—that's worthy. Dispute the pegging on a claim—that's worthy. Rob a man, cheat a man, kill a man—that's worthy. But family shame! Tell that to the bellmen, to cry up and down the Hokitika-road—they'll think it news! What's family shame without a family?' (I.1.73).
While Walter Moody is attempting (at least at first) to keep some of the details of his family drama back, Balfour is trying to draw him out—and school him on the different classes of deceit that exist and which ones are the worst in this town. The sharing of confidences (i.e., the desire not to keep secrets) ends up being important to demonstrating good faith and trustworthiness.
Quote #2
Something was afoot: of this he was suddenly certain. Balfour was performing a role, on behalf of the others: taking his measure, Moody thought. But for what purpose? There was a system behind this battery of questions, a design that was neatly obscured by the excess of Balfour's manner, his prodigious sympathy and charm. The other men were listening, however casually they turned the pages of their papers, or pretended to doze (I.1.130).
It takes Moody a little while to catch on, but eventually he realizes that the men in the Crown smoking room were in the middle of something when he came in—and, therefore, that they have some secret purpose for getting together that night. So, suddenly the setting is a lot less relaxed for him.
Quote #3
Something was afoot: of this he was suddenly certain. Balfour was performing a role, on behalf of the others: taking his measure, Moody thought. But for what purpose? There was a system behind this battery of questions, a design that was neatly obscured by the excess of Balfour's manner, his prodigious sympathy and charm. The other men were listening, however casually they turned the pages of their papers, or pretended to doze (I.1.130).
It takes Moody a little while to catch on, but eventually he realizes that the men in the Crown smoking room were in the middle of something when he came in—and, therefore, that they have some secret purpose for getting together that night. So, suddenly the setting is a lot less relaxed for him.