“I’m not looking for anything right now,” I said slowly.

“It’s a good job,” he said simply and sat down in an armchair opposite me. “There’s nothing you wouldn’t like.”

I made grunting noises. “What would it be?” I asked.

“Lu Andasca is running for election,” he said. “He wants someone to handle his publicity. It’s worth two hundred and fifty dollars a week for the right man. You could do it.”

I was startled. “Lu Andasca?” I said, “I don’t know him.”

“He’s all right,” Peppi said, examining his neat finger nails. “He’s fine.”

“What makes you think I could do it?” I asked, playing for time.

“You could do it,” he repeated. “Two fifty dollars isn’t bad, is it?”

“It’s swell,” I said, “but, right now I’ve got one or two things…”

“I wouldn’t bother about those things,” Peppi said carefully.