‘No, no,’ Collis told them. ‘It’s what my father broached with me this afternoon. He said he had found me a young lady. Arranged a betrothal, as it were. He is desperately keen to see me married and respectable — or, at the very least, married and apparently respectable.’

Collis blew smoke. ‘This is what they call a marriage of convenience, although it seems to be for everyone’s convenience except my own. The girl he wants me to marry is Delphine Spooner, who is the daughter of George Spooner, of Ohio Life and Mutual. And guess which Wall Street finance company is interested in joint speculative investments with Ohio Life and Mutual? No prizes for the right solution.’

‘Delphine Spooner,’ said Jack thoughtfully. ‘I met her once at a birthday party, out at Astoria, Long Island. Quite pretty, if I remember, but very, er, petite.’

‘I’ve only seen her a couple of times,’ said Collis, ‘but I remember her arms were unbecoming. Plump, if you know what I mean.’

‘Well, that settles it,’ said Jack. ‘You can’t marry a girl with plump arms.’

‘Quite right,’ said Henry. ‘And supposing you don’t even like the young lady when you meet her? What then? I really think you’re going to have to make a stand here, young Collis. Is a man’s destiny his own, or not? You hold our collective fate in your hands.’

‘I’ve already agreed to meet her,’ said Collis. ‘I’m not entirely sure why, although I guess it has a lot to do with money. I know my father would cut down my allowance if I annoyed him. He might even cut it off altogether. But that isn’t the whole reason. Maybe that business with Kathleen Mary this morning made me think twice. Maybe it’s time I was respectable.’

‘Hallelujah,’ said Jack. ‘The scales have fallen from his eyes. He has been converted to the one true faith, which is to honour thy father and thy mother, marry a virgin, and if at all possible, live no further north than Fourteenth Street.’

‘I really don’t know what’s the matter with you, Collis,’ said Lewis. ‘I always thought you were a man of the world. A dashing figure. And here you are, considering wedlock with a very drab young lady. It’s inadmissible!’

Henry raised a hand to Jimmy, to indicate that they were all ready for another round of drinks. It was growing noisy and bright and hot in the saloon now, as pre-theatre crowds pressed in for a quick beer or whisky before the shows started. Just as Jimmy slid over fresh glasses for them, a tall, sallow young man in a showy silk vest and hyacinthine whiskers came pushing his way through the throng of black top hats and starched white shirt fronts and shook them all by the hand as if he hadn’t seen them for seven years.