Mask of the Verdoy Read Free Page A

cuppa, dear? The pot’s still warm.’
    ‘I’d love to Vi, but I think I’ll just get this down me and then get some kip—I need my bed.’
    ‘What you need is the love of a good woman, George Harley, that’s what you need—someone to look after you. After all, it’s got to be two years now, hasn’t it? Why don’t you—’
    ‘Now, don’t start all that again, Vi! By the way—have you been up to see Aubrey today?’
    ‘What, the iron?’
    ‘Vi!’
    ‘Well, he is a poof, ain’t he? Right little lavender boy, if ever I saw one. I was up earlier as it happens. I’d say he’s on the mend, alright—he’s been out of bed today. Still won’t have the quack round though—I told him you’d offered to pay.’
    ‘He’s scared Vi—they gave him a proper going over. One of the cowsons was a giant … You should’ve seen him—a couple of minutes more and I reckon I’d have had a corpse on my hands.’
    ‘Well, he probably brought it on himself. After all, I’m sure we can all guess what he was up to in a backstreet off the Dilly at that time of night. The other two were probably of the same persuasion an’ all. It’s not natural, is it?’ said Vi, crossing her fleshy arms and pursing her lips.
    ‘Come on—he’s only a kid, from some god-forsaken little town in the back-of-beyond; no doubt kicked out by his old man, finds himself in The Smoke, all alone—you know how it works.’
    ‘Well, I’m sure I don’t know how it works, George. I suppose he won’t be pestering up any rent while he’s staying with you? You wanna watch it—you’ll get yourself a reputation.’
    ‘Once he’s up and about he’ll be on his way.’
    ‘And by the way—he’s ruined the mantle on the gas up there by lighting his ciggies on it … You know, George, if you did the place up a bit, got some paying tenants in … well, you could give this private detective lark up for good; relax a bit. I’m sure that’s what your Uncle Blake had in mind when he left you the place. Just think of it—you’d be a landlord. It’s not a bad living when all’s said and done. And the company would do you good, Georgie—rattling around in that big old house all on your tod, except for that mangy old tomcat of yours; and your little charity cases, of course. This one’s the third this year, ain’t it? There was that old soldier boy, then the Rusky with the gammy leg; all staying there buckshee. If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were being taken for a ride.’
    ‘Come on, Vi—what harm does it do? As you say, I’ve got the space. Anyone would do the same given the opportunity.’
    ‘You’re a soft touch—that’s what you are.’
    ‘Oh yeah? Well, no doubt you took him up some grub when you went up earlier?’
    ‘Well, I’d done a bit of kate and sidney for Mr. Johnson in number three—it’s his favourite. And well, it’s a sin to let good food go to waste, so I—’
    ‘You wanna watch yourself, Vi—you’ll be getting a reputation!’ Harley cracked a smile. ‘Universal brotherhood, that’s all it is—looking out for your fellow man.’
    ‘Don’t come your old bolshie fanny with me, George Harley! It won’t wash. Now—go and get that grub inside you, while it’s still hot.’
    Harley retrieved his front door key from his jacket.
    ‘What’s all this?’ He pulled a leaflet from the letter box. ‘Sodding BBF? They’ve not been canvassing round here again, have they?’
    ‘There was a couple round earlier; nice boys—real healthy-looking types, you know? One of them had a touch of the Gary Coopers about him. And those uniforms, George—oh, they do look smart.’
    ‘I’d have thought we’d all had enough of uniforms, Vi … but maybe that’s just me.’
    ‘But that’s just it—all those things they promised you boys when you came home. Well, where is it all, eh? I don’t know … what with all the strikes, two and a half million poor buggers on the dole, the Empire falling