‘Maybe, Tommy Lane. Maybe. It’s Bolger you’re interested in, isn’t it? Well, I heard a whisper- only a whisper, mind - that he has been seen with Isaac Dubronsky. He’s well in with the Jews. Now they’ve always stuck to trading and loan sharking, but I understand Willy wants them to branch out into the cat business. Never had no time for whores myself, prefer my females to have four legs and a good pedigree. But it’s funny, you know, Tommy, you coming here, because I was going to see that woman of yours, Briony. It seems she’s the one he’s gunning for. He’s been asking all over town about her. It sounds more a vengeance thing to me. You know, I wondered if she’d had a word with him at sometime, a run-in like? Because he was asking about her in Stratford not a week since. And around Barking. About her family. You might not believe me but I was going to see the lady in question myself, especially after that young girl was cut.’

Tommy stared at Boris with awe. There was nothing that escaped his notice. He rarely used his information, it was more of a hobby to him.

‘You know about Ginelle?’

Boris grinned. ‘Listen, Tommy, I know everything about everyone, yourself included. But I don’t use anything unless it benefits me. If you have a handle on someone it brings in unpaid debts a lot faster than a hiding. Also, if I hear of a robbery and one of the people involved owes me money, I can collect it quickly and cleanly. But this Bolger I don’t like. He cut a friend of mine a few years back, a young tom who liked a bet. He cut her face. I went to see him myself. That’s where Willy got the scar across his back. I done him with a razor and Willy, being Willy, let me. That was why I wanted to see young Briony. I like her. I liked her when she was a child and her father used to send her with a bet. Tell her from me, whatever happens, I will be on her side.’

‘Thanks, Boris, I appreciate that.’

He smiled, showing black teeth, and shook his head. ‘I always was a gentleman. Whatever my reputation, I would never hurt a woman. Bolger has made a career of it. The sooner he’s cleaned off the pavements, the better.’

Tommy stood up and held out his hand. Boris grasped it and squeezed it tightly.

‘Go and see Dubronsky. If I know him he’s in over his head. He’s strictly small-time.’

‘I will.’ Turning back at the door, Tommy said, ‘I’ll tell Briony what you said, Boris. She’ll really appreciate it.’

He grinned.