At the bottom I bumped absently into someone coming through the door. ‘Sorry,’ I mumbled. A violent blow on the back sent me staggering. ‘Richard, you old bastard.’ ‘Grimsdyke!’ We shook hands delightedly. Although we were close companions in medical school, I hadn’t seen him since the afternoon he failed his finals. ‘What the devil are you doing in this den of thieves?’ he demanded at once. ‘Looking for work.’ ‘God help you! Is Father Bloodsucker up aloft?’ I looked puzzled. ‘Old Pycraft – the vile criminal in a frock coat and brass glasses.’ I nodded. ‘Damn! Sure it wasn’t old Berry? Tall thin character, bald as a pillarbox?’ ‘No, it’s Pycraft all right.’ He frowned. ‘I thought it was Berry’s day. He’s almost human, sometimes. But Pycraft – Oh, hell! We must go and have a drink.’ ‘In case there’s any danger of this developing into an all-day session,’ I said as we stepped out, ‘I must warn you that I’ve just been given a job to go to.’ ‘What, by those people?
