Masterson is not your typical, thick eye glass wearing librarian.
He looks healthy and robust, knoledgeable, yet sharp and practical.
He's the type of man that can hold a vision while keeping his eyes on the next step.
By saying "I thought that gun was dangerous in your hands" he reveals he has
concern for what's going on. He looks beyond Oxford.
His knowing Monte is no accident.
The 10,000 credits he pays Burrows on many occasions probably aren't university funds,
but money from his own pocket. They add up to quite a sum, considering that 10k may be
small change to a privateer, but probably a lot of money to a ship-less civilian.
The dismantling of the Oxford library also seems to be his own descision.
The most curious event is when he lets Burrows know that he knows what he's looking
for. Makes Burrows quite nervous, forcing Masterson to reassure him: "You need not be
threatened...". Nor did he need to reveal the fact to Burrows. Why did he?
Seems to me he wants to gain Burrows' confidence before he goes, and finds no better
way of doing it than by saying "Here, I know stuff about you already, so you already
trust me, if you're not killing me, --and I hope you aren't."
Risky move.
Burrows' trust must mean a lot to him. But why?
By the way, when you read the library entry for Dr. Monkhouse, it says there that he
studied at two universities: one in Sol, and Oxford. That means, they know each other.
Masterson probably knows that Monkhouse was kidnapped by Rondell, rather than being
financially supported by them. He knows that Monkhouse has a piece of a map. He also
knows that you have a piece of a map. But he knows also that what you're doing for
your own benefit will result in his benefit and Monkhouse's. He sees Burrows as a
long term investment; and that's good for us. It means that Masterson is a primary
character to keep in Privateer sequels.
