PART ONE
It Begins
CHAPTER I
THE LOUNGE of the Princess Hotel was crowded with stragglers, filling in time before going in to dine. At the far end of the room., waiters hovered at the open doors of the restaurant, waiting patiently for someone to come on in and eat. It was just after seven o’clock, and the room was seething with movement as people pushed past small tables to greet friends, or shouted across, whichever way they felt.
William Duffy sat in a corner, drinking a Bacardi Crusta. The table before him held a number of bottles. The barman was a friend of his and let him mix his own drinks. There was a scowl on his face and he hadn’t removed his hat. He just sat there drinking and smoking and scowling. Looking up suddenly, he saw Sam McGuire of the Tribune crawling by, muttering apologies as he lurched into small tables. Duffy reached out and touched Sam’s cuff. Sam stopped at once.
“My God!” he said, “I’m goin’ blind or somethin’.”
“You ain’t doing so badly,” Duffy said, looking him over. “You ain’t quite blind, but you’re getting on.”
McGuire hooked a chair with the toe of his shoe and pulled it towards him. He folded himself down and grinned.
“You goin’ on a bender?” he asked with interest, looking at the collection of bottles before him.
Duffy signalled the barman, who brought another glass. The barman looked the two of them over with a practised eye. “Ain’t goin’ to overdo it, are yuh?” he asked in a pleading voice.