He couldn't tell if Bates was jerking his chain, or just dim beyond belief. He watched Bates pick his teeth with a pinkie nail. Last float in the clueless parade. But still he's smarter than Mirplo, and Mirplo got away clean . Bates inspected his nail, then went back to work on a tooth, apparently trying to dislodge a stuck seed.
Players mouth off to each other, but they always mouth off to dealers.
I get the impression. Anyway, Luther Gerlach fought with a dealer too, and Turk Nixon fought with everyone. Bates finally freed the seed. He examined it with languid satisfaction, then flicked it out the window. Swertlow looked at his partner again.