‘There’s nothing like work to calm your emotions. After all, you should be working at this moment. Are you ready? Tell me if I’m going too fast:
“Peckham was fun exclamation mark but the day inevitably dawned when I realized that I and my beloved pals at the factory were poles apart full stop The great throbbing heart of London across the river spelt fame comma success comma glamour to me full stop I was always an incurable romantic exclamation mark New para The poignant moment arrived when I bade farewell to my first love full stop Up till now I had had eyes for no others but fate – capital F – had intervened full stop We kissed dot dot dot a shudder went through my frame dot dot dot every fibre of my being spoke of gratitude and grief but the budding genius within me cried out for expression full stop And so we parted for ever full stop New para I felt a grim satisfaction as the cab which bore me and my few poor belongings bowled across Vauxhall Bridge and into the great world – capital G capital W – ahead full stop Yes comma Peckham had been fun exclamation mark” Now, leave a space, please, and -‘
‘What’s all this about?’ Merle said.
‘Don’t fuss, you’re putting me off.’
‘God, if Mr Druce thought I was working in with you, he’d kill me.’
‘Leave a space,’ Dougal said, ‘then a row of dots. That denotes a new section. Now continue. “Throughout all the years of my success I have never forgotten those early comma joyful comma innocent days in Peckham full stop Only the other day I came across the following paragraph in the paper -“ Hand me the paper,’ Dougal said, ‘till I find-the bit.’
She passed him the newspaper. ‘Dougal,’ she said, ‘I’m going.’
‘Surely not till you’ve typed it out for me?’ he said. ‘There isn’t much more to take down.’
He found the paragraph and said, ‘Put this bit in quotation marks. Are you ready? “The excavations on the underground tunnel leading from the police-station yard at Peckham are now nearing completion full stop The tunnel comma formerly used by the nuns of the Order of St Bridget comma stretches roughly six hundred yards from the police station bracket formerly the site of the priory unbracket to Gordon Road and not comma as formerly. supposed comma to Nunhead. Archaeologists have reported some interesting finds and human remains all of which will be removed before the tunnel is open to the public quite shortly full stop end quotes.”‘
‘Is this a police report?’ Merle said. ‘Because if so I don’t want to do it. Dougal. Mr Druce would -‘
‘Only a few more words,’ Dougal said. ‘Ready? New paragraph “When I read the above tears started to my eyes full stop How well did I recall every detail of that station yard two exclamation marks The police in my day were far from -“‘
‘I can’t go on,’ Merle said. ‘This is putting me in a difficult position.’
‘All right, dear,’ Dougal said. He sat up and stroked her long neck till she started to cry.
‘Type it out,’ Dougal said, ‘and forget your troubles. It’s a nice typewriter. You’ll find the paper on the table.’
She sat up to the table and typed from her shorthand notes.
Dougal lay back on his bed. ‘There is no more beautiful sight.’ he said, ‘than to see a fine woman bashing away at a typewriter.’
‘Is Mr Douglas in?’
‘He’s up in his room writing out his reports. He’s busy.’
‘Can I go up?’
‘I’ll see if it’s convenient. But he’s busy. Come inside, please. What name?’
‘Elaine Kent.’
‘Come up,’ Dougal called from the second landing.
‘You may go up,’ Miss Frierne said. ‘Top floor.’ Miss Frierne stood and watched her climbing out of sight.
‘You’ve been putting too much water in the plant,’ Elaine said, feeling the soil round the potted ivy. ‘You should water it once a week only.’
‘People come here to cry,’ Dougal said, ‘which accounts for an excess of moisture in this room.
She took a crumpled brown-paper bag from her shopping basket. They were Dougal’s socks which had been washed and darned.
‘There’s talk going round about you,’ Elaine said. ‘Makes me laugh. They say you’re in the pay of the cops.’
‘What’s funny about it?’
‘Catch the Peckham police boys spending their money on you.’
‘Oh, I would make an excellent informer. I don’t say plain-clothes policeman, exactly, but for gathering information and having no scruples in passing it on you could look farther than me and fare worse.
‘There’s a gang watching out for you,’ Elaine said. ‘So be careful where you go at nights. I shouldn’t go out alone much.’
‘Terrifying, isn’t it? I mean, say this is the street and there’s Trevor over there. And say here’s Collie Gould crossing the road. And young Leslie comes up to me and asks the time and I look at my watch. Then out jumps Trevor with a razor – rip, rip, rip. But Collie whistles loud on his three fingers. Leslie gives me a parting kick where I lie in the gutter and slinks after Trevor away into the black concealing night. Up comes the copper and finds me. The cop takes one look, turns away, and pukes on the pavement. He then with trembling fingers places a whistle to his lips.’
‘Sit down and stop pushing the good furniture about,’ she said.
‘I’ve gone and worked myself up with my blether,’ Dougal said. ‘I feel that frightened.’
‘Leslie was waiting for Mr Willis at five o’clock the day before he went on his holidays. I saw him standing be-hind Mr Willis’s car. So I hung on just to see. And then Mr Willis came out. And then Leslie came forward. And then Leslie said something and Mr. Willis said something. So I walked past. I heard Mr Willis say, “Have you left school?” and Leslie said, “What’s that to you?” and Mr Willis said, “I should want to know a good deal more about you before I took notice of what you say” – or it was something like that, Mr Willis said. And then Mr Willis drove away.
‘Ah well,’ Dougal said, ‘I expect to be leaving here next month. Will you cry when I’m gone?’
‘I’d watch it.’
‘Come on out to the pictures,’ Dougal said, ‘for fine evening though it is I am inclined for a bit of darkness.’ On the way out he picked up a letter postmarked from Grasse. He read it going down the street with Elaine.
Dear Douglas,
We arrived on Saturday night. The weather is perfect and this is quite a pleasant hotel with delightful view. The food is quite good. The people are very pleasant. at least so far! We have had one or two pleasant drives along the coast. Quite frankly, Richard needs a rest. You know yourself how he forces himself and is so conscientious.
Richard is very pleased with the arrangements we came to the other evening. It will be so much better to have someone to support him as there are so many Drovers in the firm now. (I almost think, quite frankly, the firm should be called Drover, Drover, Drover Willis instead of Drover Willis!) I hope you yourself are satisfied with the new arrangements. Richard instructed the accountant before he left about your increase and it will be back-dated from the date of your joining the firm as arranged.
I feel I ought to tell you of an incident which occurred just before we left, although, quite frankly, Richard decided not to mention it to you (in case it put you off!). A young boy in his teens waylaid Richard and told him you were a paid police informer employed apparently to look into the industries of Peckham in case of irregularities. Of course, Richard took no notice, and as I said to Richard, there would hardly be any reason for the police to suspect any criminal activities at Drover Willis’s! Quite frankly, I thought I would tell you this to put you on your guard, as I feel I can talk to you, Douglas, as to a son. You have obviously made one or two enemies in the course of your research. That is always the trouble, they are so ungrateful. Before the war these boys used to be glad of a meal and a night’s shelter, but now quite frankly…