Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[imchongjun]

Hello, teachers.
I have a question about the last line of the following passage:

"Once I get away from here, I'll be free as the air."
"After," Doan said warningly, "you pay me a thousand dollars."
"Sure. That's what I meant."
"If I got you to the border in one piece," Doan said, "and you didn't have the thousand dollars, I wouldn't think it was a bit funny. And you wouldn't, either."
"I've got it. I'll pay you. Why, I wouldn't double-cross you, Doan!"
"Not twice," Doan agreed.

I am not sure what Doan means by "Not twice". Doan and the other guy have met for the first time, so it does not seem to make sense that he says "I won't be deceived by you twice". Or does "twice" have something to do with "double-cross" in the other's previous comment?

[Philo Kevetch]

Hello Im Chong-jun

Without the complete text...

it seems 'Dolan' is warning the other fellow ('And you wouldn't, either.')

that, if he were to double-cross him (once)...

the consequence would be so dire that there would be no chance to double-cross him a second time.

What do you think? What are you reading? Philo

[imchongjun]

Thank you, Philo, for your comment. I knew it would be difficult to answer my question without the entire backgroud, but I was not sure how much I should explain as a prehistory of this scene. I think your explanation is what I wanted. It makes sense. The passage is from Norbert Davis' "The mouse in the mountain". I love this humorous detective fiction and want to know the meaning of every phrase.