“Maybe,” said Archie. “My inclination is to dump you in the river.”

“But Sparks wants me alive. She your girl?”

“She’s her own girl.”

“Because I got the idea you fancied her.”

“I don’t give a rat’s balls what ideas you ’ave.”

“Then why are we talking?”

“We ’aven’t talked yet. I’m ’ere out of, let’s call it professional interest. I gather you were part of some blackmail scheme. Nice racket, pays well when it works, but what interests me is I don’t know you, and I make a point of knowing people ’oo travel the shady side of the street. None of me lads know you, either. Your accent is London, no doubt about it, so if this was regular work for you, we would ’ave crossed paths at some point or another. So, what are you?”

“Just a chap trying to get two bob to rub against each other,” said the man.

“Aren’t we all?”

“Did Miss Sparks tell you everything about our little transaction?”

“She did.”

“So you know about the five thousand pounds.”

“I do.”

“No, you don’t,” said the man. “A top spiv like you wouldn’t have walked away from a payday that large and that easy. Three of you, two of them, me on the floor. I saw you. You were surprised the blonde had ready money on her to pay for these lovely accommodations.”

“Say, for the sake of argument, that I didn’t know about the five thousand,” said Archie. “What’s your point?”

“You let me loose, I’ll tell you where to find the money.”

“’Ow do I know you’re telling the truth? That this money even exists?”

“That was the payoff for me turning over the letters. They got the letters, I never got the payoff, but I know they have it, because I got a glimpse before things went haywire. Cut me loose, and I’ll tell you more.”

“Maybe you just told me all I need to know,” said Archie.

“You need to know about who you’re dealing with.”

“Tell me your name, then.”

“Oh, I’m not talking about me,” said the man. “I’m talking about your girl. I know all about Iris Sparks. You know she worked for Intelligence during the war? Special Operations, amongst others.”

“So I gathered,” said Archie.

“Did she tell you herself?” scoffed the man. “You must be a special one for her to let that slip. Yeah, I know Iris Sparks. I used to work that territory, too. Very popular with the lads, was our Iris, but there wasn’t a one she fancied that she didn’t turn on in the end. Sometimes she breaks their hearts, sometimes she leaves them bleeding in warehouses. Ask her what really happened at Poplar Dock yesterday if you don’t believe me.”

“And the five thousand?”

“That information comes with a price. That’s what I traffic in. You see, that’s why you don’t know me, but I know you, Archie Spelling. I play in a much higher league than you and your boys do, and my associates eat spivs for breakfast.”