Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

At last the cab pulled up outside the club. Micky waited while Edward paid the driver. They went inside. In the cloakroom, in a knot of people hanging up their hats, they met Tonio.

Micky tensed. He had put everything in place: now he could only cross his fingers and hope that the drama he had envisioned would play itself out as planned.

Tonio caught Edward's eye, looked awkward, and said: "By Jove ... Good morning, you two."

Micky looked at Edward. His face turned pink and his eyes bulged, and he said: "See here, Silva."

Tonio stared at him fearfully. "What is it, Pilaster?"

Edward said loudly: "About that hundred pounds."

The room went suddenly quiet. Several people looked around and two men on their way out stopped in the doorway and turned to see. It was bad behavior to talk about money, and a gentleman would do so only in extreme circumstances. Everyone knew that Edward Pilaster had more money than he knew what to do with, so it was obvious he had some other motive for publicly mentioning Tonio's debt. Bystanders sensed a scandal.

Tonio went white. "Yes?"

Edward said brutally: "You can let me have it today, if it would suit your convenience."

A challenge had been issued. Plenty of people knew the debt was real, so there was no point in arguing about it. As a gentleman, Tonio had only one option. He had to say By all means. If it's important, you shall have your money right away. Let's go upstairs, and I'll write you a cheque--or shall we step around the corner to my bank? If he did not do that, everyone would know he could not pay, and he would be ostracized.

Micky watched with horrid fascination. At first a look of panic came over Tonio's face, and for a moment Micky wondered whether he would do something crazy. Then fear gave way to anger, and he opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. Instead he spread his hands in a pleading gesture; but he quickly abandoned that, too. Finally his face crumpled like the face of a child about to cry. At that point he turned and ran. The two men in the doorway dodged out of his way, and he dashed through the lobby and out into the street without his hat.

Micky was elated: it had all gone perfectly.

The men in the cloakroom all coughed and fidgeted to disguise their embarrassment. An older member muttered: "That was a bit hard, Pilaster."

Micky said quickly: "He deserved it."

"No doubt, no doubt," said the older man.

Edward said: "I need a drink."