Halfway across the room she lost time. He changed step and steered her towards the exit. She suddenly grew very heavy and her hands clutched at his arms.
“I’m goin’ to faint,” she said in a far−away voice. “Get me out of here.”
He was already leading her to the door. One of his arms was round her waist and he had to support her. No one noticed anything wrong. When they got out into the open she collapsed and sank down on her knees.
The closed car swung across the road and one of the doors opened.
The Jew picked her up and shoved her hastily into the car. The door slammed and the car drove away very fast.
The Jew watched the tail−light disappear and then he went back to the dance−hall. It was easy. He sat down at the table again and took out a little note−book. He made an entry. Then he put the note−book away and sat back, his eyes once more searching the line of girls waiting for partners.
7
September 8th, 9 a.m.
RAVEN OPENED his eyes. He had a knack of being instantly awake after a heavy sleep. He never struggled back into consciousness. One moment he was asleep, then next he was fully awake. He stared up at the ornate ceiling, feeling the soft comfort of the bed under him.
Three months ago he had been a bum. Now he was powerful, rich and feared, but he was smart enough to know it couldn’t last. Some time someone would squeal, and he’d have to go into hiding. It would be different now. He had money banked in several banks under different names. He had a lot of money in the apartment.