at least he did not look at all enthusiastic to be home ; if home he considered it , and laurence said , `` i hope , '' tentatively , and tried awkwardly to suggest that tharkay might consider extending his contract , when they had settled such delicate matters as payment for those services already rendered : tharkay had been paid for guiding them along the old silk trading routes from china , but since then he had recruited the ferals to their cause , which demanded a bounty beyond laurence 's private means .