'You got my message through the flower-seller ?sx ' 'What message and what flower-seller ?sx ' 'Please yourself .sx There's other talent for hire .sx ' Loddon began to signal the waiter .sx 'All right , no need to go off half-cocked .sx You might be a flick .sx ' 'Do I look like one ?sx ' 'No .sx .' 'Okay .sx Anywhere we can talk ?sx ' 'I'll leave in a moment ; you go out the entrance where they come in from Coventry Street .sx I'll probably be around .sx ' The man got up and left , pausing a moment at the door where the porter wanted to know why he had no bill .sx Loddon paid his own account , finished his cigarette and got up .sx He looked about him , wondering if Sergeant Leinster was in the room .sx If so , he was not visible .sx In Coventry Street the reporter halted outside the doors of the Corner House , waiting .sx His table companion appeared , touching his arm and making a head jerk towards Rupert Street .sx They walked in silence , turning into a wide court half-way up on the right where , half-way along it , the man stopped .sx 'Now friend , what's the job ?sx ' 'Your name Light ?sx ' 'What's that got to do with it ?sx ' His tone was wary .sx 'I never talk to men without names .sx ' 'Choosey , aren't you ?sx Call me Shiner .sx If you've got any funny ideas about anything , forget them .sx ' He touched his left arm that Loddon had noticed was carried slightly away from his body , the sign-manual of the man habitually used to a shoulder-holster .sx 'I'm never funny when I'm out on business .sx But I'm damned if I'm going to talk in a place like this .sx Know anywhere private ?sx ' 'I might do , if you give me a lead on something interesting , for example .sx ' Loddon did not say anything , fumbling in the left-hand pocket of his trench-coat .sx He half grinned when he saw Light's hand begin to move towards his left armpit .sx When the reporter's hand reappeared , it contained a thick packet .sx He flicked the top fold , revealing five-pound notes in what was a very large collection of them .sx 'This good enough ?sx Plenty more where these came from .sx ' Light's quick look was expert .sx 'Looks about seventy of them in that lot .sx ' 'Eighty , to be precise .sx ' 'Good enough .sx We'll get a cab .sx Got any objection if I ask you to hold your hat over your eyes on the journey , friend ?sx I don't advertise my home .sx ' Loddon was amused at Light's caution , but impressed by it when he stopped a cab in Wardour Street and held out a card to the man , telling him to drive to the address it bore .sx From behind the shelter of his hat Loddon , whose knowledge of London is almost as good as Superintendent Shott's , knew when they turned left in Shaftesbury Avenue .sx From Piccadilly Circus , following the curious angle round Hyde Park Corner , it was fairly easy and , by the slight left hand sway of the cab , Brompton Road was identified .sx Then Loddon got confused , but he had an idea they turned round the Albert Hall and began to twist in a multitude of small streets , halting at last .sx If he could not guess the address , he had a shrewd idea of its whereabouts .sx When he got out it was in a short , ill-lighted mews .sx The cab driver was paid off .sx Light led the way to a door beside a closed garage .sx He took a key out of a pocket , smiling without humour when he saw Loddon looking round .sx 'Don't worry , friend .sx You'll never guess it in a thousand years .sx ' Loddon nodded in a baffled fashion , not bothering to add that a small sign in the distance , caught by a trick of light from a badly curtained window , said :sx 'Hickliff- Coals' .sx He knew he would have no trouble in finding the mews when he wanted to come again .sx There was darkness behind the door that opened .sx Not until Loddon had reached the top was a button touched , and he saw a door on his right .sx 'Go on in ; it's not locked .sx ' The door gave access to a tidily furnished sitting-room where chintz and Japanese oak predominated .sx At one end was a large record-player with , on the facing side of the room , a television set .sx 'Make yourself at home .sx ' Light threw his coat and hat on a chair .sx Loddon retained his own .sx 'Thanks , I'm not staying long .sx Only take a few minutes .sx ' 'Sounds like something easy .sx Drink ?sx ' Light moved over to a table spread with bottles .sx 'Whisky ; if not , beer .sx ' 'Easy .sx ' He filled two glasses and brought them across , sitting on a low couch facing Loddon .sx 'Health .sx ' 'And yours .sx ' The reporter sipped the drink , setting down the glass unusually slowly .sx He was trying to find an angle , not so much for the purpose of framing a proposition but in the hope of getting Light to unwittingly give him a slant on the facts he was seeking .sx 'Now look-' then he paused .sx The door he had noticed on the far side of the room was opened , and a big man with an extremely ugly face entered .sx He was yawning and stretching as if he had just woken from sleep .sx He stopped , and stared .sx 'This the prospect ?sx ' His voice was soft , almost urbane .sx 'That's right , Eeky .sx We was just getting down to business .sx He's willing to pay-' Eeky Morris went slowly to a table near the wall , took something out of it , and turned , a long-barrelled Smith & Wesson Service pistol in one hand .sx He made a face at Light's expression of surprise .sx 'Sucker , aren't you , Shiner ?sx Seen this chap more than once .sx Name's Loddon .sx He's a reporter .sx ' The pale blue eyes became narrowed and bitter .sx 'You sure ?sx ' 'Sure I'm sure !sx Seen him at a coupla trials , and his picture in the Daily Report , once .sx And you brought him here !sx ' 'His message came through the pillar-box .sx ' 'That damned flower-merchant !sx ' Morris's voice was sour .sx 'Probably got the lead from one of the boys .sx I always told you it's asking for trouble relying on that old fool .sx ' 'I'm here , too,' Loddon said ; he disliked being ignored , even if the party was scarcely in his favour .sx 'I'm a reporter .sx Okay .sx And what the hell do you propose to do about it ?sx ' Light was on his toes again .sx One hand sneaked out and the reporter's face became white then scarlet where the violence of an open palm hit it .sx 'That's what , friend .sx ' He half turned to Morris .sx 'I'll take him , Eeky ?sx ' 'Please yourself .sx I'll cover him while you frisk him .sx ' Loddon submitted meekly to the search , his blue eyes so intently angry that Light was outstared , completing the search with rough hands .sx He swore gently .sx 'Precisely nothing to identify him .sx And-' he swore again .sx 'Two fivers covering a bundle of scrap cut the same size .sx You busy little fellow !sx ' His hand took Loddon on the other cheek , then he began to remove his jacket .sx 'This is something I'm going to enjoy , friend .sx ' Loddon glanced at Morris's gun , guessed at the proximity of neighbours , and decided to chance it .sx Light had only half removed his jacket , he went forward as if he had jumped .sx One ready fist came up from the ground in an almost classic haymaker .sx Light's head snicked back ; he folded up as if he had suddenly gone boneless , and lay still .sx Morris said something wicked under his breath .sx 'Clever bastard !sx Stay where you are , unless-' 'Unless nothing !sx ' Loddon leapt at him , the comforting zeal for battle rising with the swift urgency he knew well .sx 'You wouldn't use that thing here , and you know it !sx ' He dodged the downward lash of an attempted pistol-whipping , and one fist smacked on Morris's ear with a comforting thud .sx But Morris was both larger and tougher than his partner .sx He threw away the gun , ignoring what must have been a painful blow , and stepped forward .sx If he was big , Loddon was not short , if with far less weight .sx The two of them stood toe to toe and traded blows with the efficient economy of men who knew how to fight .sx Loddon realized his weight was just not good enough when Morris began driving him back .sx He gave hurriedly , leapt over the chair he had been sitting on , and before Morris could understand the manoeuvre , vaulted back again with the help of a shortened handspring .sx Both his feet in mid-air hit Morris on the chest .sx The action brought Loddon over , but it was on top of the partially winded Morris .sx They began rolling over and over , hands at throats and eyes , crashing into the silent Shiner Light on the way .sx The table of drink bottles came down .sx They ended against the record-player which tottered but did not fall , releasing a confetti of gramophone discs on them .sx Loddon did not think he had the stamina of the other man .sx He forced the attack to try and win the fight before he was exhausted , both of them gouging and punching with a sort of envenomed hate , grunting and cursing at each other .sx The pleasant sitting-room was becoming a chaos and neither of them paid any attention to knockings on the wall , the protests of alarmed and irritated neighbours .sx Morris , pounding steadily at Loddon , seemed determined to take all the punishment going so long as he could prevail in the end .sx With his physique it seemed highly probable he would .sx He hit the reporter in the chest with the force of controlled fury .sx But he telegraphed the blow , and Loddon was already moving away .sx He grunted , went head over heels and came up against a table behind the fallen table of drinks .sx He hurled himself backwards over it , sliding across and dropping to the far side .sx Morris angling himself forward almost simultaneously , got the impact of the table thrust at him .sx It was followed by Loddon in a headlong dive over the top .sx They went down with a violence that shook the floor , entangled themselves and began methodically to try and pound the life out of each other .sx It was bitter and merciless , and might have gone on until the gasping Loddon was finished .sx But Light's voice came like the lash of a whip :sx 'All right , friend ; stick 'em up .sx I'm perfectly ready to use this thing .sx ' Loddon paused , half turning .sx He saw Light on his knees , holding Morris's gun , then folded up as Morris's fist drove into his wind with deliberate savagery .sx It seemed hours before Loddon came out of the wrenching of agony inside him .sx It felt as if he would never breathe again , but , somehow , with little gasps he slowly came to a doubtful normality .sx When Light dug him in the back with the gun , he tried to get up , failed , and tried again .sx This time he got to his feet , and stood there .sx His hands bunched and he tensed himself to jump at the jeering Eeky Morris .sx Light thrust the gun , and Loddon paused .sx 'All right , guts .sx If I can't risk firing this thing , I can still club it , so nark it if you don't want a sore head .sx Eeky , I want to know what this chap knows- it'd pay to take it to certain people , eh ?sx ' 'Yes,' Morris , breathing heavily and dabbing at the blood pouring from a cut ear , looked as if he was going to enjoy the party after all .sx 'How ?sx ' 'Ask him .sx If he doesn't feel like answering , I can handle him .sx ' Light looked as if any refusal to answer would suit him ; he stared at Loddon with an intent expression .sx 'Now , friend .sx ' A battered , still gasping Loddon grinned crookedly at him .sx 'Melodrama in A Flat !sx ' It was a poor jest but it seemed funny enough to laugh at outright , then Loddon's lips curled in agony .sx The butt of the Smith & Wesson was slapped viciously against the side of his knee .sx 'That'll do to start off with .sx ' Light moved back , waiting until Loddon's involuntary tears of agony had stopped .sx 'Feel like being civil , friend ?sx ' 'If you put that gun down-' 'I'm taking you-' 'I think not .sx ' The voice from the door brought round the heads of the three men .sx