The Toff Breaks In by John Creasey

Author:John Creasey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: House of Stratus

Chapter Ten

Attack!

Four sullen, and disgruntled men lounged in the bar of the ‘Steam Packet’, mostly with temporary repairs to features that had been damaged in the encounter with the Toff and young Brendon.

They were worried for two reasons.

The fight had shown them that they were facing someone who knew the methods of the East End, and they were no longer convinced that it had been a chance encounter when the lounger had come to Brendon’s assistance. But the other thing was more important: Nigger Dougall and Hi Ling paid good wages but expected good work. They could not claim that their work that night had been good.

Consequently they awaited further orders with trepidation.

Four equally worried men were in the underground room, for Squint-Eye had been admitted to the counsel of the others. He was badly bruised and considerably frightened. He knew that he had escaped serious injury more by a miracle than anything else, and the moment when he had been flying through the air had been the worst experience of a not uneventful life.

Chamberlain was talking.

‘Where did you first see the younger man, Jaggers?’

‘He started to foller you,’ said Jaggers, ‘and he musta seen through the dodge at the barfs, but he lorst yer down ’ere. I told him to scram—’

‘Why talk to him at all?’

Jaggers saw the expression in his employer’s eyes and did not like it. There was a whine in his voice as he went on: ‘He mighta’ seen yer comin’ away, Boss, and yer didn’t want ’im squealin’ around the place, did yer?’

‘It wouldn’t have been wise.’ Chamberlain realised that his bodyguard had acted for the best. ‘Young Brendon will have to go. You’ll arrange it, Dougall?’

Nigger nodded, but this time he did not grin. He was still shaken – physically by the impact of Jaggers on his solar plexus, mentally by memory of the Toff ’s card, and the first interview.

Hi Ling, now dressed in a well-cut suit of blue serge, but contriving to look even more Oriental than before, spoke softly: ‘But his fliend? The other man?’

‘If I ever see ’im again,’ began Jaggers viciously, ‘I’ll slit ‘is blastid froat! I’ll—’

He made a motion across his neck.

‘You did not succeed with your knife tonight,’ said Hi Ling softly. ‘He showed so remarkable ability for a fight did that strange man.’

Dougall stared uneasily.

‘What’s on yuhr mind, Ling?’

‘Only once,’ said Hi Ling imperturbably, ‘have I seen such grey eyes before. Only once, my fliend.’

‘Who do you mean?’ snapped Chamberlain.

‘You also have seen them. Rollison—’

‘It couldn’t be! He hadn’t left us long; his clothes—’

‘I think it was the Toff,’ said Hi Ling. He stared at Chamberlain, who had started to pour whisky into a tumbler. ‘Rollison would change swiftly, not far from here. None other could have acted quite as he did. Do you understand now, my friend, the man against whom you would set us?’

Chamberlain tossed off his drink.

‘Ye-es. If he did that he’s good, but we’ve got to get him as well as Brendon more than ever now.

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