Further Discussion

Poul Anderson, "Margin of Profit," see here.

Van Rijn tells his associates that the losses of shipping to Borthudian piracy:

"'...is gotten to be too many by now. The Brotherhood will accept no more. Confidential amongst the we of us, I would not either.'" (p. 152)

Here is a psychological difference between me and van Rijn. If I also thought that the losses had become too many, then I would have said so to Torres, not kept this "confidential." But not saying what you don't need to say seems to have become a habit.

Next:

"Deliberately irritating, which might pique forth ideas, van Rijn added what was everybody's knowledge..." (p. 153)

This sentence serves two purposes. First, it signals that van Rijn is speaking for the benefit of the reader, who does not share "everybody's knowledge." Secondly, it again shows that everything he says is calculated, for a practical purpose. What he says is that arming the merchant ships would require bigger crews and:

"'Consider the wages paid to spacefolk; we would really get folked.'" (p. 153)

After some apposite malapropisms and an apt portmanteau word, he now articulates an inelegant pun. Finally, for this post, he has an Andersonian moment of realization:

"'In this case, what we need is a scientifical approach with elegant mathematics -'
"Abruptly he dropped his glance and covered a shiver by pouring himself another glassful. He had gotten an idea." (ibid.)