‘Will you please go?’
There was something in her voice that made him realise suddenly that she meant what she said. He experienced a sick, empty feeling of rage.
‘Now, look here, Eve,’ he said, his voice sharpening, ‘this has gone far enough! You can’t do this to me! You’ve just got to do what I tel you. I won’t get the job if you don’t. It is because the Rajah wants you, he’s giving me the job. Don’t you understand? I don’t mind telling you he was livid with me because I let Baird trick me. He wouldn’t believe it wasn’t my fault. If I hadn’t thought of you, he was going to prosecute me. I’ve signed one or two of his blasted cheques, and he’s found out. He could send me to jail, Eve! Don’t you understand? It was only because I promised you’d be nice to him, he’s withdrawn the charges. You’ve got to…’
‘Get out!’ Eve said, turning. ‘I never want to see you again!’
‘Oh, no!’ Gil is said, his face flushing, ‘you’re not going to talk to me like this. I’ll go when I damn well want to. You’re going to listen to me or you’ll be sorry!’
‘If you don’t get out I’ll cal the janitor and have you thrown out!’
‘You won’t!’ Gil is snarled, turning from red to white. ‘What you want is a damn good hiding! You’ll get it too if you don’t do what I tel you. I’m not going to lose a perfectly good job because you’re suddenly squeamish about the colour of a man’s skin. That cat won’t jump.’
‘There’s a name they call men like you,’ Eve said quietly, ‘and it isn’t a pretty one.’ She walked over to the telephone. ‘Are you going?’
‘No, I’m not!’ Gil is said, and started around the table towards her. ‘I’ve warned you. Put that phone down or you’ll be sorry.’
Eve hurriedly began to dial the janitor’s number. Gil is reached her and wrenched the phone out of her hand. She gave him a violent and heavy slap across his face.