“Yeah.”
Pugsey looked at the girl again. “Maybe you’ve got something there. Yeah, I think you’ve got something there.”
“She ain’t so fair, is she? Still, she’s about the same age. Jeeze! Didn’t that one squawk when we—you know.”
Pugsey giggled. “It don’t matter a great deal if this one squawks here, does it? I mean, there ain’t anyone around to come bustin’ in. Maybe she’ll be sensible.”
The girl had gone very white and her eyes opened wide. She put one hand on the ground and struggled up on her knees.
Jakie said, “Looks like she’s goin’ to take a powder.”
Pugsey edged a little nearer. “Naw,” he said, “she’s going to be sensible, ain’t you, baby?”
The girl said: “Leave me alone. I don’t want to talk to you. Go away. Please go away.”
Jakie put his fingers into his vest pocket. “Hear her talk,” he said, his dark little eyes darting over her. “Think I ought to try and persuade her?”
Pugsey nodded. “Yeah, we better hurry. Look, it’s gettin’ late.” He produced a cheap watch and waved it in front of Jakie.