There was a patch of dried blood on the bridge of his nose.
“An old lady’s bags did that,” Mike said. “I reached up to help her with them and they fell on me.”
Brett gestured at him from the bar with her cigarette-holder and wrinkled the corners of her eyes.
“An old lady,” said Mike. “Her bags fell on me. Let’s go in and see Brett. I say, she is a piece. You are a lovely lady, Brett. Where did you get that hat?”
“Chap bought it for me. Don’t you like it?”
“It’s a dreadful hat. Do get a good hat.”
“Oh, we’ve so much money now,” Brett said. “I say, haven’t you met Bill yet? You are a lovely host, Jake.”
She turned to Mike. “This is Bill Gorton. This drunkard is Mike Campbell. Mr. Campbell is an undischarged bankrupt.”
“Aren’t I, though? You know I met my ex-partner yesterday in London. Chap who did me in.”
“What did he say?”
“Bought me a drink. I thought I might as well take it. I say, Brett, you are a lovely piece. Don’t you think she’s beautiful?”
“Beautiful. With this nose?”
“It’s a lovely nose. Go on, point it at me. Isn’t she a lovely piece?”
“Couldn’t we have kept the man in Scotland?”
“I say, Brett, let’s turn in early.”