‘You’re going to need stake money, that’s why. A hundred and fifty will do you for beginners, but if you need to borrow some, I’ll gladly oblige. I like your style, if you see what I mean. You’re a gentleman. There aren’t too many of those in San Francisco. There’s those that call themselves gentlemen, like the Society of California Pioneers, which means everyone who came here before January 1, 1848. But not many of those are gentlemen in the sense that Eastern folk define it. Mind you, it’s worth having a few friends among ’em, and I can introduce you here and there.’

‘That’s very generous of you,’ said Collis.

‘No, it’s not generous at all,’ retorted Charles. He took out his worn leather cigar case, offered a cigar to Collis, bit the end off his own cigar, and spat it out on to the wharf. He produced matches and they lit up.

‘I’ll tell you why it isn’t generous,’ added Charles. ‘It isn’t generous because I want something from you in return. Once you’ve gotten yourself settled here, I’d like you to work for me. I like your style. You’ll give my business a bit of class, and you’re tough, too.’

Collis suppressed a cough. Charles Tucker’s cigars were exceedingly strong, and apart from that he hadn’t eaten since dinner last night, a scrappy end-of-the-voyage meal of beef hash and potatoes. He was suddenly aware of how tired he was, too.

‘Do you know of anyplace cheap I could stay?’ he asked Charles. ‘I think the first thing I could use is a bath and a couple of hours’ sleep.’

‘Of course, I was coming to that,’ said Charles. He jumped down from Collis’s trunk, tugged his vest straight, and stood beside him, at least six inches shorter, but straight-backed and perky, and looking as if he would gladly smack any man in the mouth as soon as say good morning.

‘You can stay where I stay, whenever I’m in town,’ he said. ‘It’s a fine hotel of sorts, and I’m friendly with the proprietor. Well, in actual fact, it’s a whorehouse on Dupont Street, but they have five or six rooms that a visiting gentleman can use, and besides gambling they have some of the prettiest girls in the city. My wife thinks I stay at the Rassette House, which is more or less respectable as San Francisco goes, but they can’t cook you an omelette that’s good for anything else but patching your boots, and all their chambermaids are as ugly as paddle steamers. You’re best off with Knickerbocker Jane, and that’s experience talking.’

‘Knickerbocker Jane?’ asked Collis.