She caught hold of his arm.
‘Darling, I beg you not to go on with this,’ she said imploringly. ‘It won’t work. Oh, yes, I’m sure Baird’l get Hater out of prison. He could do anything, but it’s when Hater is free that your troubles are going to start. Please give up the idea before it’s too late. You’re running into something that’s more dangerous than anything you’ve ever mixed yourself up in before. You must give it up, Adam, before it’s too late.’
Gillis patted her hand.
‘I think I’l go to bed now,’ he said, yawning elaborately. ‘I’m dead tired. Go to bed yourself, Eve, and take my advice: mind your own business and leave me to mind mine.’
She looked at him helplessly.
‘Al right, darling,’ she said. She knew in a moment he would begin his threats again. ‘I’l go to bed.’
‘You wouldn’t have ten dol ars on you, would you?’ he said, as he steered her to the door. ‘It’s a debt I promised to settle.’
She opened her bag and took out two ten-dollar bills.
‘Take them,’ she said, without looking at him.
‘Only ten,’ he said, taking one of the bil s. ‘Never let it be said that I sponge on you.’