Iftheres any fightin to be done, leave it to me.
Its enough to make a man give up the game.
I pottered idly about the room, humming a tune and
wondering whereStanley was. I handed him a moth-ball with the vague idea that it
might console him,and he became silent. Youroutrageous temper will get you into
serious trouble one of these days.
Estelle had come in, cooked, cleared up andcleared
out.
He slumped back on the bed and stared bleakly at
me.
Estelle, I said, would you do something to help
Stanley?
Just a minute, said Maureen, busily scooping a
brush, comb andscent-spray off the dressing-table. It is characteristic of me that
when I come to a decision, Iimmediately carry it out. His face was a reddish-brown
and freckledlargely, like a banana.
Got bushed trying to find your house or Id have
gothere earlier. Me feet aint really as big as this, he remarked.
He slumped back on the bed and stared bleakly at
me.
I left him and went downstairs to the kitchen and
switched on the lightand sat down.
Shake, he said, displaying his manual
acreage.
Might come across the old man, put in a harsh
voice.
I heard about the sharps in Sydney and Im taking no
chances. Shake, he said, displaying his manual acreage.
With my chin cupped in my hands, I disciplined my
mind and laid out mytroubles for inspection.
I trudged up thestairs once more and entered
Stanleys room. I promised to call on her when I came toSydney.
Steak swung her other leg over the window-sill and
advanced in battleformation.
Passing down the hall in the darkness, I bumped
Stanley coming from thekitchen.
Ive been talking to someone on the phone, I
continued.
The front door creaked and the murmur of hushed
voices filtered throughthe darkness. I nodded as the man handed me the receipt. The
kind you might expecton a submarine that had been submerged for a week during a
battle. I understood how he felt, and forbusiness reasons forgave him; nevertheless,
I suffered.
He paused in the kitchen and turned to me with a
puzzled look.
He sat down and wrinkled his forehead to give me
the impression that hewas thinking.
Stanley rolled off the bed and stood up,
wincing.
At the foot of the stairs, I saton the bottom step
and thought. Anyhow, what did it matter if it was the police? Got a cheque for three
thousand in the other boot.