1953 - The Things Men Do Read online

  An argument started up suddenly in a comer between Berry and Madge. She was as tight as he was, but not as tight as he seemed to want her to be.

  He was trying to pull her into another room when Gloria saw what was going on.

  "Ed! Please go over and break that up. I don't care what he does to her outside my flat, but I'll be damned if he does it in my bedroom!"

  Dix grinned lazily.

  "So what? Let the man alone."

  "If you don't break it up, I'm going to!"

  He shrugged and went over to Berry.

  "He's just an animal when he gets liquor in him," Gloria said to me, wrinkling her nose.

  Dix said something to Berry, who let go of Madge and sat down, scowling. Dix came back to the bar.

  "Ed, isn't it time you had a talk with Harry?"

  "Okay. Let's go into the other room, Harry."

  "Don't lie on my bed, please, like you did last time,"

  Gloria said.

  "What's a bed for but to lie on?"

  He jerked his head at me and I followed him across the room. As I passed Berry he said with a sneering grin, "Are you two girls going to powder your noses?"

  Dix turned and reached Berry's side with the swiftness of a streak of lightning. He slapped Berry's face before Berry could get his arm up to protect himself. He hit Berry so hard, Berry fell off the settee on to the floor.

  "Ed!" Gloria screamed.

  The other girls backed quickly against the wall, out of the way. Louis and Joe stood motionless. Louis looked scared, while Joe grinned, thrusting his hands into his trousers pockets.

  Dix stood over Berry who lay on his side looking up at him, one side of his white face a flaming red.

  "What did you say, you punk?" Dix asked in a dangerously quiet voice.

  "I didn't say anything," Berry said, not moving.

  "Then don't say anything."

  Dix eased his massive shoulders under his full draped coat and toned to me.

  "Come on; let's talk."

  He went into the other room without looking back. Still startled and a little shaken by the unbelievable speed at which he had moved across the room to hit Berry, I followed him and shut the door.

  I found myself in a lavishly furnished bedroom of blue and silver decor. A double bed with a quilted headboard of blue satin stood by one wall. Walnut built-in cupboards covered another wall. There was a huge mirror, lighted by strip lamps that took up most of the third wall, and a dressing-table, covered with bottles of lotions, perfumes and boxes of creams faced the bed.

  Dix was wandering around the room, his hands in his pockets.

  "Some joint, isn't it? How would you like to sleep in all these frills?"

  "I wouldn't, but most girls would."

  "Yeah. I guess that's right. Park fanny somewhere. I want to talk to you."

  He went over to the bed and stretched out on it. He groped for a cigarette, threw me one and lit up. "Gloria tells me you own a big garage in Eagle Street. Did she tell you I'm looking for a West End Agency?"

  "She mentioned it."

  "Eagle Street would suit me. Think you could handle it?"

  "I don't see why not. What exactly would I have to do?"

  "Not much at first. Later, you'd have to keep a stock of all parts my company manufactures, and be damned sure you didn't run out of stock of anything. There are about a hundred and fifteen spare parts to the television set we manufacture, and each part has a code number. The trade will order the part by its number and you'll supply it. That's all there's to it. You get ten per cent of the gross."

  "What would that be worth?"

  He shrugged.

  "Depends, of course. It couldn't be less than fifty quid a week."

  I tried not to show surprise, but he was watching me closely, and I knew I had shown him this was much more than I had been hoping for.

  "Sounds all right."

  He gave me his lazy, insolent grin.

  "It is all right. This is going to be a life saver for you if it comes off, isn't it?"

  "Well, things are pretty duff at the moment."

  "Suppose I come down and look the place over? If it's big enough we might do business. Can't promise anything just yet, but I don't see why we shouldn't work together. Do you?"

  I wasn't at all sure about going into partnership with a man of his violence. Within the past half hour I had seen two examples of his temper. I didn't like him. There was something about him that made me distrust him. But I thought of the money he was offering, and that more than outweighed my prejudice against him. With fifty pounds a week coming in steadily, I should be out of the red and into the black.

  "I'll look after my end of it if you'll give me the chance."

  He gave me a sideways look.

  "You'll have to, pally. If you pull your weight, we'll get on. If you don't, you'll get out."

  "Fair enough."

  "Okay, that's settled then." He rolled off the bed, leaving an impression of his big frame on the pillow and the pale blue eiderdown. "I'll be along some time Monday afternoon to look the joint over. Then well have a final discussion."

  "I'll be expecting you."

  We went back into the big room again.

  Berry, Louis, Madge and Connie were playing cards.

  Gloria and Joe were matching coins at the bar. The other two girls weren't in the room.

  "Where'er Paula and Betty?" Dix asked, going over to the bar.

  "They've gone home," Gloria said.

  "That's good. You other guys go home, too. Take your skirts with you. The party's over."

  I expected Gloria to protest, but she didn't say anything.

  The four at the table put away the cards and got up. The girls went into the bedroom for their coats. Berry and Louis stood a little uncomfortably by the door. Berry's face was beginning to show a bruise where Dix had slapped him.

  "See you guys tomorrow," Dix said. "Usual time."

  "Okay," Joe said.

  I looked at my watch. It was half-past eleven. Ann would be home by now. I hadn't realized how quickly time had gone.

  "I must be moving myself."

  "Take it easy. Let's get rid of these punks first," Dix said, unwrapping a stick of chewing gum. "Give him a drink, Gloria."

  "I won't have another."

  "Give the guy a drink!"

  While Gloria was fixing a whisky, the girls came out with their coats on. Their leave taking was uneasy, and they seemed glad to be going.

  When they had gone, Dix said, "Looks like Harry and me are going to work together, Gloria. If his place is right, we'll fix it on Monday."

  Gloria smiled at me, her eyes lighting up.

  "I'm glad. It'll be fun for you and Ed to work together. I'll see more of you, too."

  "Gloria's nobody's fool," Dix said, apparently in a high good humour. "She's given me some pretty good ideas in the past, and this one may work out right too." He raised his glass.

  "Here's hoping, Harry."

  I finished my whisky.

  "I've got to get off home now," I said, looking at my wrist-watch uneasily.

  "What's the hurry?" Dix asked, raising his heavy eyebrows. "Come with us to the Millionaire's Club. We're going to make a night of it."

  "No, I'm sorry. Thanks all the same, but I've to get back."

  "He has a wife, Ed," Gloria said, smiling. "You wait until you are married. You won't be able to stay out late just when you think you will."

  I felt my face turn hot.

  "Won't I?" Dix said. "Don't kid yourself. I'll stay out as long as I want to, and if she doesn't like it, you know what she can do."

  "You cave men give me a pain."

  Dix grinned.

  "I gave you a pain just now, and if you don't watch it, I'll give you another."

  Gloria backed quickly away, laughing.

  "No more of that, please. I'm a mass of bruises as it is.

  Well, Harry, if you must go, you must."

  "I get up early.
I've got to get some sleep tonight."

  "Well, so long," Dix said, and gave me a jeering little smile. He pushed out his massive hand. His grip nearly cracked my fingers joints and made me wince. "See you Monday."

  "Yes."

  "I'll come down with you," Gloria said.

  We went down the stairs to the dimly lit hall.

  "It's going to be all right, Harry. He's taken a liking to you. I know the signs. He doesn't shake hands with people he doesn't like."

  "Thanks to you."

  She smiled up at me.

  "I've taken a liking to you too, Harry."

  We stood looking at each other. There was that thing in her eyes again, and it suddenly set me on fire. She moved forward slightly, and I had her in my arms.

  "Better not, Harry," she murmured, but she raised her face, her arms sliding round my neck.

  My mouth came down on hers. I felt her lips tighten against mine, then soften and open. We stood in the dim light, straining against each other.

  Kissing her was like being caught up in the vortex of a tornado. When she pushed me away, my breath rasped at the back of my throat, my heart was slamming against my side, and there seemed to be an iron band around my chest that was suffocating me.

  "Good night, Harry."

  She opened the front door. In the light of the moon I saw her breasts were rising and falling rapidly, and her eyes were glittering.

  I moved unsteadily through the doorway. I tried to say something, but the words wouldn't come. I was still standing there, trying to control my breathing, looking at her, when she quietly closed the door, shutting me out in the moonlit mews.

  chapter five

  As I walked from Gloria's flat to Charing Cross Station to collect my suitcase, I worked out a plan of campaign.

  That good night kiss, plus the whisky, had hopped me up as if I had swallowed a handful of Benzedrine tablets. I was chock full of confidence that I could handle the situation now. I was going to make fifty pounds a week! Ann would have to know about it, of course, but that could be taken care of without hurting her. It was essential she shouldn't be hurt. I couldn't understand why I had been such a damned fool as to have lied to her. In my present mood, it now seemed ridiculous not to have told her I couldn't go to the movies with her because I had an important business date. I had to straighten that out as soon as I got home. It would mean telling her a few more lies, but that couldn't be helped.

  Then there was Gloria. I didn't love her, of course, but I was certainly infatuated with her. Men get infatuated with girls, I argued to myself, in spite of being genuinely in love with their wives. It happens every day of the week; it has always happened, and it will always happen. You pass through this life but once, I said to myself, and you would be a mug to miss such an opportunity. Gloria wants you to make love to her.

  You want to make love to her. Of course it isn't strictly playing the game with Ann, but men are doing that kind of thing every night, so why shouldn't you? What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve about. So long as Ann doesn't find out, and I'll take damned good care she doesn't find out, where's the harm?

  Have an affair with Gloria, I said to myself, and then finish with it. You'll settle down with Ann all the better for getting Gloria out of your system. I didn't kid myself that Gloria was in love with me: nothing like that. Love didn't come into it.

  This was a physical storm through which we were both passing. Get it over, and there'd be nothing more to it.

  I really believed what I was telling myself. So long as Ann didn't find out, all would be well. Go ahead, I thought, don't take any chances, but don't miss this opportunity.

  As I walked down Eagle Street, I felt het up and emotional about Ann. She was a good kid. No one better. I loved her more than anyone else in the world. This thing with Gloria wouldn't make any difference to my feelings towards Ann. I'd get it over and out of my system. The thing to do was to get it over as quickly as I could, and then forget about her. It would be as easy as that.

  The light was on in the bedroom when I pushed open the door. Ann was in bed, her hair about her shoulders, her eyes serious and worried as she looked at me.

  "Well, I'm back."

  "Yes, Harry."

  I came into the room and closed the door.

  "Did you enjoy the movie?"

  "It was all right."

  I came to the foot of the bed and grinned at her. The whisky was still hitting me, and I felt right on top of the world.

  I'll take that soared, worried look out of your eye in a minute, darling, I said to myself. Wait 'til you hear what I'm going to tell you.

  I saw her flinch.

  "It's late, Harry. Hadn't you better get undressed?"

  "I said I had a confession to make. Aren't you curious?"

  "What is it?"

  I saw her hands clench into fists, and she quickly put them under the sheet.

  "Old Lewis didn't call tonight: I was lying."

  She continued to stare at me for a long moment, then: "I knew that, Harry."

  That jarred me. It spoilt my opening. I stared back at her.

  "You knew? How did you know?"

  "Does it matter? It was rather obvious, Harry. You'd better get undressed."

  "Now look, you're thinking things you have no right to think. I only lied to you because I didn't want to raise your hopes. I shouldn't have done it, but I wasn't sure if this offer was going to come off. I didn't want you to be disappointed."

  She was still staring at me, still worried, but suddenly not so scared.

  "I don't know what you mean."

  I sat on the bed by her side.

  "Of course you don't! Remember I told you I had to think up an idea to get us out of this mess? Well, I thought of one. There's a company making television sets. As a matter of fact old Lewis mentioned the company to me when I was fixing his breakdown. He said they were looking for a West End Agency. I decided to do something about it. I made inquiries and got into touch with the right man. His name's Ed Dix. You remember when I went out yesterday afternoon to get those auto bulbs? Well, I went to see him. At first he didn't seem interested, but I kept at him, and finally he said he would have to talk to his people, and he would phone me. That was him phoning tonight when I said it was Lewis." That's what a lot of whisky did to me. The lies came so convincingly they almost convinced me. "He asked me to come over to his place right away. He still sounded doubtful, but I had an idea I could make him come down on my side. I couldn't be sure, of course, so I didn't tell you or Bill. I wanted to be absolutely sure before I broke the news. Well, it's in the bag, Ann, if he thinks the garage is big enough, and of course it is big enough. He's coming to look at it on Monday, and I'm sure now I'll clinch it. And listen, Ann, this is something big: it could really grow with any luck. He says I couldn't make less than fifty pounds a week! Think of that! Fifty a week! Why, damn it! I'll buy you a dozen pairs of slacks now: anything you like!"

  She sat up, the scared, worried look gone, and her eyes were sparkling.

  "Oh, Harry! You worried me so!"

  I put my arm round her and pulled her close.

  "I know I shouldn't have lied to you, Ann, but how did I know you would see through me? I thought I had you and Bill properly fooled. If I had even guessed you didn't believe I was going out to Lewis I would have told you the truth. Damn it! Why didn't you tell me? Why pretend you believed me when you didn't? You've been thinking all kinds of nonsense, haven't you?"

  "I'm sorry, Harry. I really am sorry."

  "I think you should be, Ann. Not so long ago you were saying we mustn't lose faith in each other. Well, you couldn't have had much faith in me tonight."

  "Oh, Harry, forgive me. I was so worried. I did think . . ."

  "Never mind what you thought." I didn't want to hear her say she thought I was going to Gloria. "It's all right now. Monday, if we have any luck, I'm going to be the boss of an agency that'll pay fifty quid a week. Think of it!"

 
; "This is the answer to my prayer," she said, and threw her arms round my neck. "I know you think I'm silly about this, Harry, but God is being good to us. I prayed last night for us. I prayed for us just now before you came in. I couldn't believe anything could be badly wrong: not between you and me, Harry."

  chapter six

  Just when I was beginning to think he wasn't coming, Dix drove his big blue and red Cadillac into the garage.

  I had been like a cat on hot bricks all day. I had put on my best suit after I had finished serving petrol first thing in the morning, and I had sat in my office, waiting while the hours dragged by.

  Dix was at the wheel. Beside him lounged Berry. Dix was wearing a black suit with a white pinstripe, and a pearl-grey slouch hat. His dazzling hand-painted tie was out of place with a suit like that: come to that, it would have been out of place with any suit.

  Berry wore a grey suit with a black slouch hat pulled down over one eye. They looked as if they had just stepped out of a Humphrey Bogart gangster picture: the car, the clothes, the way they spilled out of the car, leaving the doors hanging open, was the nearest thing to Hollywood I'd seen off the movies.

  "Hello there," Dix said, catching sight of me. "So this is the joint." He stood with his hands in his pockets and stared around. "Got power laid on?"

  "Yes: there's ten power points."

  "The light's lousy, isn't it?"

  "Well, we use inspection lamps when we work. It saves juice, but I could have something rigged up if you think we should have more light."

  He grunted.

  "There's plenty of room, anyway: the damn place's like a barn. Look, pally, mind if we wander around and take a look at the place? When we're through, I'll come to your office. That it there?"

  "Yes."

  A little deflated, I returned to the office and sat down. I watched them wandering around the garage through the office window.

  Ann put her head around the rear door.

  "Have they come?"

  She was wearing her best dress for the occasion, and her face was flushed with excitement.

  "They are out there now."

  "Goodness! Is that their car?"