“This is it,” Cora said, pushing upon the front door. They began to walk upstairs. On every landing was a front door with a card set in a brass frame. George read the lettering on the cards as they passed. “Frances", “Suze tte", “Marie", “Jose".
As they turned to mount the last flight of stairs, they heard a door open, and a moment later, an elderly, well-dressed man came down the stairs, whistling softly. When he saw them, alarm jumped into his eyes and he stopped whistling. He paused, uncertain, and gripped his stick.
“Well, make up your mind,” Cora said contemptuously. “Either come down or go back. We want to come up.”
He came scuttling down, his mouth working with fear. He shot past them like a startled rabbit.
“I bet we put the fear of God into him,” Cora said, and laughed.
George sympathized with the man, he knew how startled he would have been to see two such filthy, wild-looking people if he were coming from such a place.
They reached the top landing. The card on the door read “Eva". Cora banged on the door with the little brass knocker.
There was a pause, then the door opened and a young woman in a smart grey tailored coat and skirt gaped at them. She had a mass of red hair, and her face was a mask of make-up.
“Ernie in?” Cora asked shortly.
“Well, my dear!” the young woman exclaimed. “Whatever have you been up to? What a surprise! Who’s your boyfriend?”