How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Placidity came back to Spade's face and voice. He said reprovingly: "You know I can't tell you that until I've talked it over with the client." (2.91)
When Polhaus asks Spade for his client's identity, Spade claims that he can't give that information up without violating client privileges. Is this a sign of Spade's professional ethics or is he simply trying to hide behind that to avoid answering Tom's questions?
Quote #2
"Show me," he ordered. "I'm willing to help you. I've done what I could so far. If necessary I'll go ahead blindfolded, but I can't do it without more confidence in you than I've got now. You've got to convince me that you know what it's all about, that you're not simply fiddling around by guess and by God, hoping it'll all come out all right somehow in the end." (6.75)
Spade is willing here to do his best to help out his client (in this case, Brigid O'Shaughnessy). But he still insists on having at least an inking of an idea what he's being hired to do. The fact that Brigid gives Spade so little to go on is asking quite a lot of him.
Quote #3
"I'm not holding out. I gave it to you straight. I'm doing a job for him, but he's got some friends that look wrong to me and I'm a little leery of him." (14.48)
Luke, the house detective at Cairo's hotel, insists that he's telling Spade the whole truth. As one of the few honest characters in the novel, Luke seems to genuinely want to help Spade out, and the information he gives Spade turns out to be accurate.