Possible Clues:

• Blandishment
• Porter say by railway accepting Cronin's blandishments?
• Flattering persuasion
• Coaxing
• Carol and Jerry, both heartless, resorted to blandishment
• Flattery
• Beguilement
• Exclamation about B Pitt's partner ignoring one's flattery
• Flattery intended to persuade
• Insincere coaxing