told me about you.'
'That's right,' Little Ernie said, grinning 'Meet Frank Kelly's gunman. He's tough, but 'e don't like talking about it.'
George sat down. The gun dug into him, and deliberately he pulled it from his hip pocket, and then glanced at the other two, tightening his mouth and scowling.
They both froze at the sight of the gun. Eva's eyes dilated and her lips parted. Little Ernie stiffened, his face expressionless.
'Do you mind if I put it on the mantelpiece?' George said, carelessly, getting to his feet. 'It's a bit in my way.'
'That's all right, chum,' Little Ernie said, his voice a trifle husky. 'You make yourself at 'ome.'
As George put the Luger on the mantelpiece, the door opened and Cora came in. George looked at her; a shiver of pleasure and desire ran through him. She had washed her hair, which was now soft and fluffy; she was cleaner than he had ever seen her before, and she was wearing a scarlet wrap which enhanced her strange beauty. Her feet and legs were bare. George suspected that she wasn't wearing anything under the wrap, and the thought sent his blood racing through his veins.
Nor was he the only one. Little Ernie, too, looked at her with frank admiration and lechery.
'Come on in,' he said, turning to the cocktail cabinet. 'What'll you 'ave? Doesn't she look a beauty, Eva?'
'Wonderful,' Eva said, without any sign of jealousy. She reached forward and rang a hell. 'I've got to leave you now,' she went on, gathering up her hat and bag. 'Ernie'll look after you. And keep your voices down, won't you? My gentlemen friends are ever so nervous. They like to think they're all alone with me, the poor darlings.' She waved her hand and went off, blowing a kiss to Ernie on her way out.
'What a gal!' Little Ernie said, sitting down. 'See what I mean? It's work all the time with 'er.'
The door opened and a thin sad-faced woman in black came in pushing a small trolley. She manoeuvred the trolley near the table, and went out without even a glance at any of them.
'There you are. Just 'elp yourself,' Little Ernie said, beaming on them. 'Eat as much as you like.'
There were bowls of jellied soup and lobster salad, a pile of chicken sandwiches, and a plate of finely cut, lean ham. A silver bucket containing a bottle of champagne on ice completed the meal.
While they ate, Little Ernie took charge of the champagne.
'Only the best,' he said, smirking at George. 'That's Eva all over. Beats me 'ow she picks everything up. Must be 'er posh friends. You wouldn't believe it, but I found 'er in a smelly little restaurant in Pimlico washing dishes. I took one look at 'er shape and took a chance on 'er. Like a monkey, she is. Picks up everything. Talks posh even. Best day's work I ever done.'
He kept up a ceaseless chatter during the meal, and when the woman had taken the trolley and table away, he poured fresh drinks and sat down.
'Well,' he said, stretching out his short legs, 'don't tell me if you don't want to, but you two certainly were in a state when you came in.'
Cora looked at him mockingly. Now that she had eaten and rested, she was once more her old self.
'That's our secret,' she said, with a short, hard laugh. 'If you really want to know, Ernie, we had a fire.'
Little Ernie picked his nose. 'I 'eard the fire engines going,' he said. 'So you 'ad a fire, did you?'
Cora nodded.
'Burnt your 'ouse and 'ome, eh?'
'Everything went up in a gorgeous bonfire.'
'Hmm.'
There was a long pause.
''Ow's Syd?' Little Ernie asked, looking at Cora sharply. She looked away, her mouth tightening 'Didn't you see in the newspapers?'
Little Ernie's eyes narrowed. 'Was that 'im? I wondered. Gawd love me . . . what a death! 'Ere, Cora, I'm sorry. You know that, don't you? I'm sorry. I liked Syd. 'E'd got guts.'
Cora moved restlessly. The wrap slipped, and both men caught a glimpse of her naked thigh. She adjusted the wrap impatiently.
'I didn't identify him,' she said tonelessly. 'They may as well bury him. I haven't any money.'
George shivered. It sounded so brutal, and yet he realized that it was only the sensible thing to have done.
' 'Ow did it 'appen?'
'He slipped,' Cora said, looking Ernie straight in the eyes.
'Wasn't pushed?'
'He slipped.'
There was another long pause. George felt that these two had forgotten him.
'Ain't seen Crispin about for some time,' Little Ernie said thoughtfully. ' 'Ave you?'
'I can't be bothered with him,' Cora returned, her eyes watchful. 'He's around, I suppose.'
