[Cassel works in cycles, fucks up, apologizes, fucks up again, and thinks graduation isn't all that clear cut. The longer he talks the more Slevin realizes maybe they aren't all that similar after all: Goodkat would not have tolerated something that inefficient. The kind of mistakes they make aren't fixed by apologies, there are no second chances. Goodkat had been very, very clear on this long before Slevin ever talked his way into the game.

Slevin makes mistakes exactly once. If he gets another chance, he won't ever make the same misstep again. And graduation? Graduation's easy if one does the research. And he has.

So instead, Slevin makes a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat, and smiles his smoothest smile.]

Confidentially speaking.

What you're saying is that you still haven't figured out how to keep from choking on your own tail.