The dealing isn't done until Mr. Gaunt says the dealing's done

The expression “The dealing isn't done until Mr. Gaunt says the dealing's done” is Leland Gaunt’s rule for controlling the duration of a bargain. Brian Rusk later recalls its terms while preparing to act, demonstrating how the phrase becomes both an instruction and a justification for continuing to serve Gaunt.

Gaunt’s Rule

Gaunt presents the expression alongside the command “Mr. Gaunt knows best.” Together, the two principles place judgment and closure in his hands: the customer is told to trust Gaunt’s authority and to accept that only Gaunt can declare the transaction finished. The bargain is therefore not framed as a mutual agreement whose completion both parties can recognize; its end depends on Gaunt’s decision.

Brian’s Recollection

As Brian prepares to act behind a hedge on Willow Street, he remembers that Gaunt had told him not to worry about the noise. Gaunt had also offered a reason to expect that few people would be nearby: most residents of the street were Catholics, and many would be attending Mass or away on Sunday trips. Brian does not know whether that account is true. What he does know, he recalls, is that Gaunt knows best and that the deal remains open until Gaunt says otherwise.

The Bargain’s Continuing Hold

Afterward, Brian feels that he may finally have fulfilled his part of the deal. His uncertainty matters: he can hope his obligation is complete, but the expression has already established that completion is not his to determine. Repeated in Brian’s own thoughts, Gaunt’s rule shows how the transaction reaches beyond the original exchange, keeping the customer oriented toward Gaunt’s authority even as he attempts to finish what he was asked to do.