“I ’ave the feeling that if I ’ad, you would ’ave made me in no time,” Archie laughed. “No, I did it the old-fashioned way. After our last night out, I got you a cab.”

“Ah, the light dawns. He was no ordinary cabdriver.”

“’E was a very ordinary cabdriver and, as such, eminently susceptible to noting your address in exchange for a small remuneration.”

“And you did this to check me out?”

“After you played me so neatly, I wanted to make sure you weren’t in no long game,” admitted Archie.

“And what did you find out?”

“You’ve lived behind doors I can’t open,” said Archie, sipping his whisky. “I take it you ’ad an interesting war.” He tapped the Coles book on the table. “You like spies, eh?” he said.

“I was a file clerk, nothing more,” she said.

“Right,” he replied. “A file clerk what infiltrates criminal enterprises and solves murders in ’er spare time.”

“A girl needs a hobby,” she said. “Anyhow, that was a one-time thing for a client.”

“Well, you did right by me in the end,” he said. “Now, what’s the story with the bloke who ’as the lease for this place?”

“An ex,” said Iris. “Let’s call him by his rightful name. We were lovers.”

“Married fellow.”

“Yes.”

“Makes no difference to me,” said Archie, shrugging.

“It did enough for you to check me out. As well as my ex.”

“Now, ’e’s a puzzle and an ’alf,” said Archie. “Flat’s not under ’is real name, and I can’t find out nothing about ’im.”

“I recommend you don’t try,” said Iris. “The search will draw unnecessary attention.”

“Yeah, I thought that might be the case,” said Archie. “But ’e’s definitely an ex?”

“The bridges are burned, the earth salted.”

“Good,” said Archie.

“Are you intending to make advances?” asked Iris, giving him a sidelong glance.

“What? To a woman in your condition? I don’t want to catch your bloody cold.”

Iris burst into laughter.

“Oh dear, I’ve got toddy up my nose,” she gasped, grabbing her handkerchief.

“That should ’elp clear it,” said Archie.

“So, now that you’ve vetted me, what are you going to do?” she asked.

“It’s an interesting situation,” said Archie, suddenly serious. “I like you, Sparks. I’m used to East End climbers and the odd upper-class girl out on a lark, but you’re different. The problem is my profession. It’s not one that lends itself to stability, if you know what I mean.”

“I do, Archie,” said Iris. “Stability has never been one of my strengths, either.”

“So, the ’ouse in the country and the quiet life aren’t likely to be in the cards for either of us, are they?”

“What if you got out of the game?”

“Still ’ave to eat, dun’ I? And I’m surprisingly unqualified to make an honest living.”

“I’m sure a man of your talents could figure something out.”

“Not as easy as you think, once you get a few marks on your chit,” said Archie. “Any’ow, this is all supposing you’d be along for the ride. We’ve ’ad two dates, far from the madding crowd.”