In the Best Families

I went and tapped on a door, got no answer, opened it and crossed a room to another door, tapped again, was told to enter, and did so. Lily was on a divan with a book. I told her what I wanted.

“Take the Houri de Perse, she advised. “Pete likes it. I had it on that night.

I got it from the dressing-table, returned to the living-room, aimed it at him from the proper distance, and squeezed the bulb. He shut his eyes and tightened his lips to a thin line.

“Now the other side, I said gently. “What's worth doing-

But he opened his eyes, and their expression was enough. I put the sprayer on a table and went to a chair.

He looked at his wrist-watch. “I read the report of your talk with Rackham. How did it go?

“Fine. You might have thought he had rehearsed it with us.

Tell me about it.

I obeyed. It felt good, giving him a communiquй again, and since it needed no apologies I enjoyed it. What I always tried for was to present it so that few or no questions were required, and though I was a little out of practice I did well enough.

When I was through he muttered, “Satisfactory. Confound this smell.

“It'll go away in time. Sixty dollars an ounce.

“Speaking of dollars, you didn't deposit what you took from Rackham?

“No. It's in the safe.

“Leave it there for the present. It's Mrs Rackham's money, and we may decide we've earned it. Heaven knows no imaginable sum could repay me for these months.

I was thinking-

He cut it off, tilted his head a little, and regarded me with eyes narrowed to slits.

“Well? I said aggressively. “More bright ideas?

“I was thinking, Archie. August is gone. The risk would be negligible. Get Mr

Haskins on the phone to-morrow and tell him to start a dozen chicks on blueberries. Uh-two dozen. You can tell him they are for gifts to your friends.

“No, sir.

“Yes. To-morrow.

“I say no. He would know damn' well who they were for. My God, is your stomach more important than your neck? Not to mention mine. You can't help it if you were born greedy, but you can try to control-

“Archie. His voice was thin and cold with fury. “Nearly five months now. Look at me.

“Yes, sir. He had me. “You're right. I beg your pardon. But I am not going to phone Haskins. You just had a moment of weakness. Let's change the subject. Does

Rackham's biting on the first try change the schedule any?

“You could tell Mr Haskins-

“No.