them.’
‘I was under the impression he was married,’ Eve said, stil with her back turned.
Gillis laughed.
‘Well, you know what these Rajahs are,’ he said. ‘It won’t make any difference to you. They look on these things differently out there. There’s nothing for you to worry about. Anyway, his present wife’s not a patch on you.’
She didn’t say anything.
‘He’s going to stay here for one more week in the hope Baird’l get in touch with him. He’ll be sailing on the 30th. We’l travel with him. You’l enjoy it, Eve. Everything first class, and he’l give you a pretty substantial cheque for an outfit. He likes his women to look smart.’
‘He is giving you a job, then, Adam?’
‘Wel , of course. I’m going to be his confidential secretary. The pickings should be pret y good.
You’l find that out, too. Of course it won’t be a permanent thing. I don’t think the chap wil last much more than five or six years at the rate he’s spending his money. But you and I wil be able to feather our nests pretty well by then.’
‘I’m glad you’ve got a job, Adam. I hope you’l be very successful, and have a lot of pickings.’
He looked at her slim back suspiciously.
‘I’ll take good care I am successful,’ he said shortly. ‘But never mind about me. I told him you’d cal at his hotel tomorrow and have lunch with him. Naturally he’s anxious to get to know you as soon as possible.’
‘I’m sorry to disappoint him, but I won’t be able to go,’ Eve said, stil with her back turned.
‘But you can’t have anything more important to do than to see him,’ Gil is said sharply. ‘You must go.’
She turned then, and he was startled to see how white she was, and how her eyes glittered.
‘Do you realise what you are suggesting?’ she asked, in a cold, level ed voice. ‘Do you realise this man’s coloured?’
‘Now, please don’t be ridiculous,’ Gil is said. ‘The Rajah’s a high-born gentleman. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge.’
‘That doesn’t make the slightest difference to me. Anyway, even if he wasn’t coloured, the answer’s still no. I’m going back to the Fol ies. I’ve had enough of this kind of life.’
‘My dear girl, I doubt if the Follies would have you. There’l be a hel of a scandal when the press hear Kile’s been arrested. I can’t imagine the Follies will want the discarded mistress of a jail-bird decorating their theatre.’
She looked away, biting her lip, her hands clenched into tight fists.
‘Now, look, do be sensible, Eve,’ Gil is said, pressing his advantage. ‘See the Rajah tomorrow. He’s got a lot of charm. He won’t rush you. Maybe on the boat you’l be expected to do your job, but certainly not until you get on the boat.’
‘You’d bet er go, Adam,’ she said, without looking at him.
He stared at her, startled.
‘What do you mean?’
‘What I say. I don’t want to see you again. I’ve been trying to make up my mind to end our sordid association for weeks, but I’ve never had the courage. But I have now. There was a time, Adam, when I loved you. I was ready to do anything for you, but you’ve killed al that. Looking at you now, I can’t understand why I have been such an utter fool. Well, I’m glad you’ve got a job. I’m glad you’re going to India. We needn’t meet again. I sincerely hope we don’t.’ She turned back to the window. ‘Please go now.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Eve,’ Gil is said, with an uneasy laugh, ‘You don’t mean it. As soon as I get home you’l cal me up as you always do. Let’s get down to earth. This is a chance of a lifetime for both of us.’
‘Wil you please go?’
There was something in her voice that made him realise suddenly that she meant what she said. He experienced a sick, empty feeling of rage.
‘Now, look here, Eve,’ he said, his voice sharpening, ‘this has gone far enough! You can’t do this to me! You’ve just got to do what I tel you. I won’t get the job if you don’t. It is because the Rajah wants you, he’s giving me the job. Don’t you understand? I don’t mind tel ing you he was livid with me because I let Baird trick me. He wouldn’t believe it wasn’t my fault. If I hadn’t thought of you, he was going to prosecute me. I’ve signed one or two of his blasted cheques, and he’s found out. He could send me to jail, Eve! Don’t you understand? It was only because I promised you’d be nice to him, he’s withdrawn the charges. You’ve got to…’
‘Get out!’ Eve said, turning. ‘I never want to see you again!’
‘Oh, no!’ Gil is said, his face flushing, ‘you’re not going to talk to me like this. I’l go when I damn well want to. You’re going to listen to me or you’l be sorry!’
‘If you don’t get out I’l cal the janitor and have you thrown out!’
‘You won’t!’ Gil is snarled, turning from red to white. ‘What you want is a damn good hiding! You’ll get it too if you don’t do what I tel you. I’m not going to lose a perfectly good job because you’re suddenly squeamish about the colour of a man’s skin. That cat won’t jump.’
‘There’s a name they call men like you,’ Eve said quietly, ‘and it isn’t a pret y one.’ She walked over to the telephone. ‘Are you going?’
‘No, I’m not!’ Gil is said, and started around the table towards her. ‘I’ve warned you. Put that phone down or you’l be sorry.’
