Reluctantly Purvis turned off the disc and sat down opposite Dallas.
‘Do you good to listen to some of the classics,’ he said, placing his finger-tips together and staring at Dallas from over them. ‘You’re losing your sense of culture.’
‘Never had one. Don’t offer me a whisky: I’d accept it.’
‘I haven’t any in the house,’ Purvis said happily. ‘I don’t touch the stuff: wastes money, dul s your perception and rots your liver.’
Dallas sighed.
‘So that’s what’s the matter with me. Maybe I’d better switch to gin.’
Purvis watched him light a cigarette.
‘You’ve been to the Frou-Frou Club tonight?’ he asked tentatively.
Yeah,’ Dal as said, ‘and I’m wil ing to bet my eye-teeth Kile’s get ing set to grab the Chit abad collection.’
‘What makes you think that?’ Purvis asked, sit ing forward.