[Hickey does not seem fazed by William's question, shrugging casually. Other people's reactions have never bothered him - if anything there's always been something amusing about his ability to needle out the worst in a person.]

We found it was more useful to be friends.

[He may be petty and vengeful, but he's not by definition unforgiving, or at the very least he's willing to square his debts.]

Besides, he did me down, I got back at him, and all's well that ends well.

[It's all said so casually, as if this was just another silly quarrel between friends set aside for better things. Hickey is wearing an officer's greatcoat and high boots, but he certainly does not look polished enough to be any sort of authority, and a lower-class accent betrays him as well.]