door. At first he wasn't going to answer, but the rapping went on and on, so he got up fmally and jerked open the door.
Eva was standing there.
He stared at her blankly, wondering what she wanted.
'Yes?' he said, blocking the way. 'What do you want?'
'Is Cora here?' Eva asked. There was a cold, spiteful look in her eyes.
He shook his head.
'Where is she?' Eva asked.
'I don't know.'
'You mean she's left you?'
He nodded. 'Please go away,' he said, and began to close the door.
'Perhaps you don't know she's been sleeping with Ernie for the past four days,' Eva said.
George looked at her. 'I don't know why you've cone here,' he said. 'But I don't intend to listen to your lies.'
'Lies?' Her voice shot up. 'Why, you dumb fool, why should I lie about a thing like that! I want you to do something about it. Do you think I want a bitch like that to steal my man?'
George went cold. 'I don't believe you,' he said. 'She's in love with Sydney. She wouldn't . . .' And he stopped. Was this another of Cora's little tricks? Was all that talk about being in love with Sydney just an excuse to fob him off?
'She's been after Ernie for months,' Eva said. 'I've watched her. But until now Ernie hasn't been having any. But she's got money now. She's giving him things. She promised to give him a car! He's not satisfied with the car I gave him. Oh no, he wants another! She's been working for him all this week. Making money . . . big money! Well, you've got to stop her! Do you hear? You've got to stop her!'
George clenched his fists. A red curtain hung before his eyes. So that's what she had been doing with his money. Giving it to Ernie, winning Ernie's attention.
'Working?' he said. 'What do you mean?'
'He's given her a beat,' Eva returned, her voice hoarse with suppressed fury. 'And a flat in Old Burlington Street.'
'Where's her heat?' George heard himself ask.
'Sackville Street,' Eva returned, suddenly frightened by the ruthless, hard face before her.
'All right,' George said, and closed the door in her face.
Fifteen minutes later he left the flat and walked across Hanover Square towards Sackville Street. Street- walkers moved slowly along the back streets, paused to talk among themselves, looked at George hopefully and went on.
George walked down Sackville Street, along Vigo Street into Bond Street. He turned and retraced his steps. He had been doing this for over half an hour when he suddenly saw Cora. She was walking just ahead of a tall, well-dressed man in his middle fifties. She was loitering, a contemptuous expression on her hard little face.
George stepped into a shop doorway where he could watch, without being seen.
The well-dressed man overtook Cora, glanced at her and went on. She did not increase her pace, but kept on, swinging her hips, her head in the air.
The mail walked as far as the street corner, and then stopped. He looked round furtively, noted that Cora was still coming towards him, and then looked tip and down, as if to assure himself that no one was watching him.
Cora came on. She looked at him enquiringly as she paused before crossing the street.
The man raised his hat and said something. Cora smiled. She waved her hand towards Old Burlington Street. From the doorway, George could see the man eyeing her figure. He said something, and then looked away.
Cora turned and began to walk casually towards Old Burlington Street, her hands in her pockets, her hips swinging. After giving her a start, the man followed her.
George came out of the doorway and followed them. They entered a tall building half way down the street, and when he was sure that they were safely out of the way he went up to the front door. There were three hell- pushes on the door. One of them had a little card: 'Miss Nichols'.
George stood looking at the card for several minutes, then he crossed the street and waited. He waited until the well-dressed man had left the building, and then he approached the place himself. As he was crossing the street again, he saw a man coming towards him. He thought it looked like Little Ernie, and he darted into a doorway, his hand flying to his gun.
It was Little Ernie.
George watched him coming down the street. Ernie called out cheerfully to a woman who was walking in the opposite direction. ' 'Ullo, ducks; don't loiter. There's still an 'our before bye-byes.'
George gritted his teeth. The little rat had made Cora into one of these women! All right, he'd fix him. The world would be well rid of a filthy little brute like Ernie.
He stepped out of his doorway as Little Ernie turned into Cora's building. A few quick steps, and George was on him, as he was opening the front door with a key.
'Hello, Ernie,' George said softly. Little Ernie gave a squeal of terror. He spun round, throwing up his hands.
