“I shall wait until I hear what he has to say,” he remarked.
“His letter gave you a pretty clear hint,” Violet said, “that it was something outside the law.”
“The law has many outposts,” Peter Ruff said. “One can thread one’s way in and out, if one knows the ropes. I don’t like the man, but he introduced me to his tailor. I have never had any clothes like those he has made me.”
She sighed.
“You are a vain little person,” she said.
“You are an impertinent young woman!” he answered. “Get back to your work. Don’t you hear the lift stop?”
She rose reluctantly, and resumed her place in front of her desk.
“If it’s risky,” she whispered, leaning round towards him, “don’t you take it on. I’ve heard one or two things about Sir Richard lately.”
Peter Ruff nodded. He, too, quitted his easy-chair, and took up a bundle of papers which lay upon his desk. There was a sharp tap at the door.
“Come in!” he said.