in her face.
'I dunno nuffink! Yer don't fink no toff comes 'ere and lies wiv me, do yer? Toffs ain't no diff rent to no one else wiv their trousers orf! They likes 'em all sorts, 'ceptin' old.'
Pitt wrinkled his nose at her crudity. 'Rubbish!' he said sharply. '' You' ve never seen a real gentleman in your life-and certainly not here!'
'It's wot Abigail said, an' I 'card 'er,' the old woman argued, looking at him closely. 'An' said in a court o' law she did, too. I was read it out o' the newspapers. Got a girl 'ere wot can read, I 'ave. She was in service till she lost 'er character.'
An idea materialized in Pin's mind, suddenly and without warning.
'Did Abigail say it to you before she said it in the court, or afterwards?' he asked quietly.
'Afterwards, the thievin' little cow!' The old woman's face creased with anger and outrage.' 'Wasn't goin' ter tell me abaht
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it, she wasn't! Coin' ter keep it all fer 'erself- when I provides 'er room and lodgin' and protection! Ungrateful bitch!'
' 'You're getting careless.'' Pitt looked at her with contempt. 'Letting a couple of well-heeled gentlemen in here and not collecting your share. And you must have known men dressed like that could pay-and well, too!'
'I never saw them-you fool!' she spat. 'Yer fink I'd 'a let 'em walk past me ifn I 'ad, do yer?'
'What's the matter-fall asleep at your post?' Pitt's lip curled. 'You're getting too old-you should give it up and let someone with a more careful eye take over. You're probably being robbed every night of the week.'
'No one comes through this door wivout I knows it!' she shouted at him. 'I got you quick enough, Mr. Rozzer!'
'This time,' he agreed. 'Any. of the other girls see these gentlemen you missed?'
'If they did and didn't tell me, I'll 'ave their thievin' 'ides!'
'You mean you haven't asked them? My, but you
'O' course I arst 'em!' she shouted. 'An' vey didn't! Nobody takes me for a fool! I'll 'ave my boys beat the skin orf any girl as takes advantage-and they knows it!'
'But still Abigail did.' He narrowed his eyes. 'Or did you have your boys beat her for it already-maybe a little too hard- and she ended up dead in the river? Maybe we should have a better look for Abigail Winters, do you, think?'
Her skin went white under the rime of dirt.
'I never touched the thievin' cow!' she shrieked. 'An' neither did me boys! She gave me 'arf the money and I never touched 'er! She went into the country, I swear on me muvver's grave! You'll never prove I 'armed an 'air on 'er 'ead, 'cause I never did-none of us never did.'
'How often did these particular toffs come and see Abigail?'
'Once-as I knows of-just once-that's wot she said.'
'No, she didn't. She said they were regular customers.'
'Then she's a liar! You think I don't know me own 'ouse?' 208
'Yes-I'm beginning to think so. I'd like to talk to the rest of your girls, especially this one that can read.'
'You got no right! They ain't done
