“Of course, I like to know something about people who have rooms here, particularly young women.”
I said, “My cousin’s engaged to a sailor. His boat’s due to arrive some time tomorrow.”
Her nose went up in the air an inch or two. “If he calls on her, tell her to keep the door open — or should I tell her?”
“He won’t call on her,” I said. “His mother lives here. She’ll visit him at his mother’s. She expected to stay there, only there was some company came in unexpectedly.”
Mrs. Eldridge’s face thawed into a smile. “Oh,” she said, and then after a moment: “Oh.”
“Is that all?” I asked.
She said, “Under the circumstances, I won’t ask you anything about her. Usually I like to know more details, but under the circumstances it won’t be necessary for you to tell me anything at all about her personal affairs.”
“I was afraid I’d have to,” I said. I went out, climbed into the agency car, and filled it with gas, oil and water. It was darn near empty on all three.
Chapter Six
I drove down to the Blue Cave. It was a joint. They’d closed up most of the burlesque houses, and those that hadn’t been closed had been disinfected so they had virtually no alcoholic content. The Blue Cave was one of the joints which had sprung up in the neighbourhood to fill the bill.