She went to a table near the electric fire. On it was a round glass coffee-bowl, and the coffee seethed and bubbled over the heat of a tiny methylated spirit lamp. Two cups were by the coffee-bowl, and she poured out.
“Milk?” she asked, “No, you ought to have it black, with plenty of sugar.”
She was dressed in a cream-coloured silk dressing-gown, fastened round the waist with a wide scarlet sash. On her feet were scarlet satin slippers. The frilly lace of her nightdress, or pyjamas, showed above the neck of the dressing-gown. Her hair was a mass of loose golden curls, her complexion pink as a child’s; and she wore only a slight touch of lipstick.
She stirred the coffee and brought it to him.
“Thanks,” muttered Rollison.
After a few minutes his head grew easier and he was not so affected by the light. She pulled up a fireside chair and sat in front of him, leaning forward with her arms folded.
“You must feel terrible,” she remarked. “Your eyes are all bloodshot, did you know? And they look glassy. But they haven’t marked you, thank goodness—there are so few good-looking men about, that I hate to think of one of them having his looks spoiled.”
“Very considerate of you,” murmured Rollison.
She laughed, and her teeth glistened and he could see the tip of her tongue.
“So you can still find a retort,” she marvelled. “I wish Merino hadn’t taken the steps he has done—I’m quite serious,” she added, as if he had shown that he disbelieved her. “I always think that persuasion is much better than violence, but he’s so used to having his own way. The trouble is that this way has often worked for him in other countries. He’s not English, you know—he’s a Cuban.”
“Indeed,” said Rollison.
“Although I suppose one ought to call him a cosmopolitan,” said Pauline musingly.
“Committing crimes all over the world,” said Rollison.
That depends on how you look at it,” the girl said. But now that you’re here and we’re alone, I’ve a favour to ask. I hope you’ll grant it because if you do, you’ll save yourself and the Aliens and perhaps a lot of other people a great deal of inconvenience.”
“Merino’s already asked me,” said Rollison, “and I am not in the mood to go abroad.”
“Oh, I don’t mean that,” said Pauline, her eyes wide and starry. “I always thought that he was silly to try to bribe you, but he’s been used to getting what he wants by offering money— or rather jewels—to V.LP.s. He’s been a jewel merchant for so long that he forgets there are other values. He hasn’t really found his own level in England. I shouldn’t be foolish enough to ask you to leave England. I won’t even ask you to keep away from the Aliens I Frankly I’m a little afraid that if Merino loses his temper he might kill Bob Allen, and I’m fond of the boy. Besides—the police would have to be consulted if murder were done, wouldn’t they?”
“I think they’d appreciate it,” said Rollison.
She laughed again.
“You’re rather sweet,” she remarked. “Is that cushion comfortable? You wouldn’t like another behind your head?” When he said “no”, she took a cigarette from a box near her, lit it, and then put it to his mouth—as he’d done to Allen. “Now you look better,” she said, “I like a man to smoke. Now, to my request! I want you to persuade Bob Allen to go through with the broadcast on Saturday, and to say exactly what I’ve told him to say. He can easily work it into his script, that can be arranged without the slightest trouble.”
“So he’s objecting, is he?” remarked Rollison.
“He’s so stubborn,” said Pauline. “He flatly refuses to do what I ask, but I feel sure he will listen to you. He may not have shown you much respect so far, but he’s impressed by you. If you exert yourself, you can arrange it——”
“So all I have to do is exert myself,” murmured Rollison.
“Yes—and not too much, I shouldn’t think,” said Pauline. “Of course, you won’t want to do it, I know that, but I think you will. He’s a nice lad, isn’t he?”
“Allen? He——”
“Oh no. That boy who works for you,” said Pauline, looking at him with mock innocence; suddenly he wanted to wring her neck. “The one with the funny little nose—I wanted to laugh when I first saw him, I should imagine he makes a lot of people feel like that. Isn’t it odd,” she went on, taking a cigarette, “that some people are born cheerful and everywhere they go they make friends and spread brightness and happiness, so to speak, and others—rather like your man Jolly—spread gloom. What is the boy’s name?”
“Higginbottom,” answered Rollison.
“Oh no!”
“James Higginbottom,” said Rollison firmly.
“Oh, how priceless! Why, it would almost be a relief to him to die, wouldn’t it, with a name like that?”
Then she lit her cigarette, and let smoke trickle from her lovely lips.
Her manner hadn’t changed; she was almost frivolous, like a young girl let loose in adult society for the first time. And she was provocatively attractive, but for the first time since he had come round, Rollison felt real alarm.
“You do understand, don’t you?” she cooed.
“Yes,” said Rollison. “Fully.”
“And you will persuade Allen?”
Rollison said quietly: “Yes, I will.”
Her eyes shone. She jumped up and clapped her hands.
“I knew you’d be sensible! I could tell it from the moment I first met you—Merino would have been much wiser to let me see you before he did, instead of playing that foolish trick with the nitro-glycerine. It was a risk anyhow, because there was no knowing who would be the one to stumble over it. It might have been Jolly, and although he wouldn’t have been much loss to anyone, I expect you would have been angry—even angrier than you were. So that’s settled.”
“That’s settled,” said Rollison, heavily.
“I’m so glad!” He thought it wouldn’t take much to make her pat him approvingly on the head. “Of course, you’ll have to play fair,” she went on. “You see, a friend of mine will be in the studio—it’s so easy to get people into that particular studio—and he’ll be listening. If Bob Allen should say the wrong thing, or anything foolish—well, then there would be an unexpected sound over the air. A shot. I wonder if a real murder has ever been broadcast?”
“And whom would your friend murder?” asked Rollison.
“Well, Allen perhaps—or you.” Pauline laughed. “I know you could tell the police or warn the officials, and try to keep suspicious persons away on Saturday night, but that won’t help you. You see, unless Bob broadcasts exactly as we want him to, you won’t see that delicious Higginbottom again. It must be vexing for you to be trapped like this, but I think you’ll be wise and not fight against it. A sensible man always knows when he’s beaten.”
“Yes, doesn’t he?” asked Rollison. “Where is Merino?”
“He’s gone into the country for a day or two, just in case there should be any trouble over the explosion,” said Pauline. “You haven’t told the police about that, have you?”
“No,” lied Rollison, without a qualm.
“I felt sure you wouldn’t. You’ve something in common with Merino,” she went on musingly, “you’re so fond of your own way.”
“And where is Allen?” asked Rollison, interrupting.
“Oh, back at Byngham Court Mansions by now,” answered Pauline. “He didn’t stay long. I told him what was wanted and gave him a copy of the new script—it’s not altered very much really—and told him he’d have to do it, or he’d know what to expect. I will say this for him, he’s not a coward, we haven’t been able to frighten him into submission. And I sent him away quickly because one of those pug-nosed men you’ve employed followed him, and I wanted to get the man away before you arrived. As soon as he’d gone, Higginbottom was dealt with. We’re efficient aren’t we?”