"What's this solicitor's name?" demanded Willie hoarsely.
Patricia smiled.
"I thought you'd want that," she said. "Well, I know his name and address; but they'll cost you money."
Willie looked at the clock, gulped, and reached into a drawer for his cheque-book.
"How much?" he asked. "If it's within reason, I'll pay it."
She blew out a wreath of smoke and studied him calculatingly for a moment.
"Five hundred," she said at length.
Willie stared, choked, and shuddered. Then, with an expression of frightful agony on his predatory face, he took up his pen and wrote.
Patricia examined the cheque and put it away in her handbag. Then she picked up a pencil and drew the note-block towards her.
Willie snatched up the sheet and gazed at it tremblingly for a second. Then he heaved himself panting out of his chair and dashed for the hat-stand in the corner.