Page
INAL MAI
NDAY
211, 1884
MICHAEL CRONIN CONTINUES THE FIVE-AUTHOR SERIAL EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE COCKNEYS
Sequence Sinister
66T
HIS," said Can-
ning, "is finitely
de- not
funny. A re- ception committec, no lesa,” They're waiting for me." She was keeping well away from the doors. "I've seen that big one in the back seat With my brother. before.
1- don't want to meet him."
"And so you shan't." He took her by the arm and walked her through the hull back beyond the magazine room. "There's always an- other way out--if you look for it. Let's look,"
A green baize door said: Staff Only. They pushed through into a bare corridor. The clacking of typewriters came from somewhere near at hand. A youth with a pimply face and a ready- made suit one size too large to allow for growth pushed past them with a parcel balanced on his chest. He was whistling "The Rose of Trulce" with some brightly Individual effects.
THE STORY
SO
FAR
GEORGE LANNING is distracted from his reading in the public Bibrary by the raised voices of a man and a girl and goes to Investigate,
He finds a young man in green trousers trying to put an ether-soaked pad over the face of a pretty girl, and at the same time grab the handbag she is clutching tightly.
Having beaten off the man, George is surprised that the girl will not allow him to call the police. He Is escorting her out of the building when they see across the road a car in which "green trousers" and two other men are waiting and watching......
felt as nervous as a pony. A well-bred pony.
"My car's in the Bide road. You wit behind the yerd gate and I'll pick you up."
you
"I don't know why should be doing this..
He gave her shoulder a brief put. A fraternal pat. But not too much.
"A bob a job: that's me. You'd better save up." Lanning the Masterful.
Small and lost
stuff.
the
Drawn
by . : 'Gordon
Hogg:
I spend most of my time there
Gerald lives in town. "He told me to be careful. about the envelope, that it was very important and that I wasn't to give it to anybody elie. I wasn't really surprised. he keeps pretty quiet about his work and I know a lot of, it 1. well, secret. He's a research chemist with Oliphants,
"He said the library would be because he had to convenient look up some stuff I've met him there before,”
"But not like this after- neon? So the little runt in the green pants told you he cama
looding
essential bottled Lanning hooted, took the from your brother and wanted Allard's nearside wheels up on the envelope and you said 'Not
and the
scraped likely'?" pavement, through; same secorted language followed them from pair of citizens handling the crates and their point of view was under- standable, Beer la beer,
a left-handed turn and it
Better idea
the procession remained in the
same order.
OF
ROME
As Londonera queue, toʻsoè a Roman tempte
DONALD EDGAR
reports on Life In Londinium.
London
T is odd how that temple of Mithras which has been uncovered in London has set people talking,
Stockbrokers, shipping men, clerks, and typists have suddenly become aware that every day in the City they are walking over, the remains of the Roman Londinium,
It takes so much imagination to realise how things were then, 1,000 years ago, To realise that England was a distant colony of Rome...I suppose in Italy province-may wall have been they thought of this country stone, like some of the temples. much as we do of, say,
If you had been a Roman Malaya.
officer stationed thero and the And that temple of legions were in Britain untit phoned Richmond but got no Mithras would have meant AD410-you would have had answer, as expected,
to д religiously minded a good house, built round a 'courtyard.". You would have had "I've got a key, so we can let "Listen," said Lanning, "round curselves in and I'll make that Roman soldier much what a the next corner there's a par- tea wo've been promising our C. of E. church means to a baths to use where you could ticularly hidectus block where selves. He probably turned up devout soldier or official in op. You could have gone to
live: I'm going to stop la a at the library after we loft Kuala Lumpur. hurry at the lower ertrance and
where I am." She sounded re- we're going to semper inside wing his office and tell him so fast that we won't cast any lieved. shadow. And once we're inside. The prospect is entrancing" you'll have to stick right with gold Lanning, and he was by me because there won't be any no means looking at or thinking time to pick flowers."'
of the scenery. "Misalon, accom- plished, more or lesa,"
"I'll be with you this is the low cunning?"
Peaceful
It was a large block of flats over the slope where the river bent, between the trees below. Each flat was gay with window baxes
"I hope. And whatever you do don't drop that begi".
Wiltshire House is ferro- concrete at its worst. Or best, Flet white surfaces, myriads of windows like cells la ahoucy- comb, sharp, clear angles. And
and bright striped a wide pavement all round. awnings. They abandoned the The Allard was still bouncing Ford discreetly under the trees, on its springs when they, surged along with the borrowed, capi The atmosphere was sunny and through the revolving doors leisured and expensive, across the hall to back corridors,
"A perfect synopsis," she "Demn," said Lanning. The agreed. "except for your timely
Is--is crrival,
that car was was going the wrong way. Elicro?" "We're running round three
"Yes. They're keeping their sides of a square. if they're distance; I'd try to shake then down a short flight of steps, emart and know their way about
are-lit expanse of the they can block our exit. What pff if I thought there was half and then out into the cavernous
a chance but we'd only ourselves marled up with buses ground garage, and things. Now, wall a minuto.
then? Do we fight them to the
death?"
the Master Brain is simmer-
In a hurry
under-
build up
the slave-market to your household.. Not that Mithras was a No doubt there was a theatre Roman god. He was one of playing something fairly new There was ASI the gods the world found from Rome. consolation in before Chris amphitheatre, it is thought, for tianity.
games.
Perhaps it you CRING from A stern, masculine god Rome itself it would all seem of light, truth, and justice rather provincial.
ROMAN LONDON
THE.... Reman elfy of Lon-
ruhite), and ite.... wurrounde (shaded)
The London Stone, et into the wall of St. Swithin's Church, Cannon-street, 8.0m use the starting-point from which the Roman roads through firitain were - measured,
A small moter-mower phut- a long-legged girl in brief shorts tered between the flower-beds; lounged a deck chair, bouncing the handle of her racket on the n' cream" and
groen Triumph sports model shimmer- ed in the sun by the hall. The Bit took them up
to the Enid Cockburn second floor. "Hey, Charlie come here!" said she was glad it was all over. that appealed to the But on a fine day you could Lanning lifted his voice against She dug
handbag
"ride through the gate Ludgate, that precious
(perflaps, leave the cemeteries The corridor was cool and
In the shadow of the Great Wall Kipling's Hymn of and utterly peaceful. This and I'll do the job for you while of red hair, the beginnings of a
ou service nest of bright "Mithras, God you sit nice and snug somewhere paunch, and wore a black and for service and gave you
teashop eating a strawberry white check Jacket without any there
buttons. How's that? No?"
spreading flowers in an alcove.
Morning, "No. couldn't let you. Thanks
by the window.
The hall of the fiat was small you- but st
vrid I mean,
Squara and brilliant with sub streming in afternoon "Ten," she sighed. Do please from the open door beyond, go in and make yourself com. fortable, Mr Lanning."
ing: you want to deliver that envelope to your brother and you don't want any more in- idal there. Rig
terference from the posse back
Right? "Uncle George has had a the hammering. Charlie emerged and found a small ring of keys. legionaries, vision of starting clarity: you from his glass-panelled mouse
the behind you, and whip up: your
She blinked as they came probably illegal reversa to straightened. Lanning swore to give me your brother's address trap of an office. He had a bush quletace where they charged XXX Legion beging: Pahorses, until you su
He took off the pressure. They They turned a corner and
were running between shabby through the glass panels of
high hoardings. The road widen He had left the Allard in ed a little in front of a gaunt a door they saw the asphalt
yard the side road, facing the warehouse, An elderly mucidal of the square
80 citizen on a cycle with a bag of slits main stream of traffic, with the concrete
newspapers wobbled in trout! where the bicycles perched. he had to do a long and the Aard's bounet. The road there him and avoided the cyclist, out into the strong sun. He come back to her: still held her arm and she was no room to turn until but only just; the cyclist swore
he reached the library yard. as well. She slipped in beside him appreciated and it will be that she was the kind of girl whose entry into a low- alung car is a joy to behold, the especially if you own
·
Headaches (BAYER
Toothaches Colds
are quickly overcome. by
CAFASPIN®
car.
He swung the Allard's rear into the yard before she had shut the door and then pulled out fast down the side road and
from the
tho front of library. And the Allard's as celeration was quite phenomenal and not in the least allent.
Bway
we'll put on a hurry, just In
case,"
'I can hide'
în a
wouldn't do... .... .......
"I want to borrow the amall van for an hour, O.K.? Pick up
Then I have m'even better my Allard-it's out in the front. the "I can't think," she whispered idea; we'll do it togehter. 1 If anyone comes looking for me you'd dazzle myself. Now the essential you don't know a thing. Right?" distractedly. Perhaps
Charlie looked at the girl and better let me get out I can hide fast is to shed the unwelcome
grinned. A volume of a grin. somewhere here until they've company in the rear and cir- gone... they don't want you culating around and about is no without offence. and you've done more than I had way to do it. We must use some the right to expect. Really low cunning." He rubbed the i mean thint-please let me out!”
tside of his nose thoughtfully.
you believe me?"
a speech,"
"
Low cunning
"Never even heard of you, Mister Lanhing."
-Tho van was a mail Ford and a credit to nobody; there was 'a
WILS
Eyes closed
was lying
reached some the pleasant
like. Cheiaca,
The river was
Our trumpets waken the till full of fish.
Wall! "Rome is above the nations,
But, thou art over all!*!
On the way wero pleasant villas built by the rich traders-justin
the same way they have But Roman London had mow bulk at its other consolations. I Hampstead and
Woking.. should say that once the
“As you drank city had been developed by the rive you might have
begun to count the
wine,
W days to your next leave—just as
a soldier doos today in Kenys:
As he went into the sitting-about: "A.D.GOTM it wasn't had nostalgia for Pombeil "That was quite he said. "I wonder what they
call of tow rope, a jack, and room he was wondering how to considered a bad station by and want you for? It's in your bag.
some lange spanners in the back get round to the matter of the
the troops. Isn't it? So it lan't the blue-
Larining borrowed a cap from name "George." Then he was in prints of the H-bomb's big "Low cunning is the answer: peg: it submerged him and was pleasant, sun-drenched roam
It had about 50,000 in. If you were, an official, per- "There was a character on the brother: that would make heap they act like a bunch of ham- excellent for the purpose, with one wide brightly curtained
to blow up handed mugs anyway. That's
habitants--say, the popula haps a praefectus, you probably corner up there," he said, "and
The van rattled out and into window.
cursed those 'doak-bound oMetals na scon as he saw me pick up the of puper. Plans
UNO?"
better; you almost smiled."
But he wasn't looking at any tion of Rugby, Bedford
in Rome who were sending you car he nipped back" cerosa the
"If I told you that I didn't She looked at him sideways the bright street with Enid squatting tin.com-
Impossible demands for informa read to the Austin. So I think know what they wanted, would and the corack thing wrong They came round the front of the chesterfeld-he
of her mouth Cockburn
fortably out of sight in the back. mount he was looking at the Ruislip.
man in the dark flannel suit on
tion just as Colonial, Office WEB Hifted. There He slowed the Allard almost with her resilience. It would be Wiltshire House the Austin's with his head back and his eyes. It was rich from trade. officials in Lagos curse London. to a walking pace. This was im a very nice smile later.
driver was alone and he was closed and his hands bangingThere were rows of shops And then in the evening you than a voice showed that she knew it "Better still," he said en reading a paper and the passing Icose, He might be drunk. Or one of them ran near Lom- could drive back to the city
bard Street, The wharves and, just as now,
system was were busy bringing whether the healing
working efficiently. luxuries; such as wine from
you might a bad place the Greek Isle of Samos.
sald, "but please, Mithras ---or it might have been Egypt- Not" many of the buildings' lan Isis who was your goddess were of stone. Brick was the "send me back home, The main material But the Basilica natives get on my nerves; |—the rest of government of the their strange jargon.”
She was hugging her bag on
her lap; she booked anall and partant, and the tone of her
rather lost; and more
Utile warried; they swept down as well.
the road, bumped kcross A cobbled intersection, and found. themselves at the rear of a. brewer's yard: cne way out and that largely blocked by a trucks.
PENINSULA HOTEL Special Announcements
GADDI'S
Dancing nightly
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
VERANDAH
first floor
..
DINNER DANCES 9 p.m. to 1a.m. every WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY
TEA LOUNGE
ground floor Music during Cocktail Hour
Brown envelope
"Of course," he said simply. She opened her bag and show ed him a brown envelope, cealed, unaddressed.
couragingly. Go on break it right open-that's a girl!"
Then the smile was quito de finitely there. And the dimple The combination was indeed something to see.
than asleep. Except that he didn't
m to be breathing. TOMORROW: Geoffrey Household carries on the story from hɩre, using ∙the Facts given by Cronin - but developing the plot in his own way.
the noisy van meant less than of nothing to him,
Once they were clear she climbed over
and the scat settled beside Lanning a without "I'd like to know what you're manoeuvre that was not
interest. George Lanning went really
about all this?" thinking
on driving. Here was a girl who Hertaine that up later," he of an old Ford van and leak as
were lively.
ocuid clamber out of the back
Badd
firmly, "once the errund is
This is what they want over and we have our feet good as they come. Or better. this is what he was after in the under a table. Is this a high library. And I don't know what's level business fight? I didn't inside. I'm supposed to give it know Oliphants went in for this to my brother, Gerald, I know stuff."
Good friends
It's important-but I don't "Reither âld 1, Gerald has
ust been to America: some sort "That was quick." she said, know why."
HE
THE NAPOLEON IN A WHITE TJE:
MAKES
OPERA PAY
Wonder
Fifty yards ahead there was of scientific mission....from the "and it worked. You have good
1 friends, Mr Lanning the outlet into the main road hind, he's been dropping,
"I go here and there. And asulm, but this time well downs gather the job is frightfully im
It helps. They'll find Wiltshire from the library. She snapped the clasp of the bag and looked -
obe evidently House a dead loa. Now what TTELPED by a swarm of they had elected him conductor to fix my reperio
what operasyshall be ming bus well. Letv give about brother Gerald?
supporting talent from by secret ballot.
which wingers kuntil... musturia at him.
She gave him the address,
of the.... star singers 1958,250g He grinned. "Your brother's a them some fun." Jucker
man than he knows: I'd The Allard: spurted, crowded Richmond up near the park his home town, Dr Karl Certain
The van was hot and Bohm, the £5,700-a-year with Bohm in London are got!
Working like to meet him, And tell him the slower traffic, and took some goles;
less than hê. But Böhm is boss days a wee 190 He sild his
cigarette case corners, in chancy fashion. But melly and the gearbox bad director of the Vienna State £5,000 a year, only £700 We and matches over to her. Save the Aurlin was no wheelbarrow, hamthe torped and she Opera or as some would and, by account means to vacat my life and light yourself one the advantage didn't last, sad way
his recent reap~*
as well, please. The name
Lanning, George Larming"
That clusive dimple appeared
"I'm Enid Cock-
we're all nice and tidy. Let's see how smart they "tre whoever they are: when 1 pro-. mine agiri a cup of tea, by gad, sha gute a cup of 'toa!"
They nosed cautiously out into
forthwith-Four men
THE FIVE WRITERS
This is CRONIN'S second instalment the most amazing thriller of the year
MICHAEL
sus Tomorrow he hands over to:
GEO YSHOUSE
say, its white-tie NapoleoAMA Anine
-has brought off a near miracle. He has made
the Via Viannin.'
absence, there wank Sendency
London grand opera' season it is alleged,” actiong) crack Vleris. nese' singers ** to use the State Opera på anvðintarer
payo
For the
Mozart: fortnight, window between)
which he is conducting at the tours abroad
Tonival Hall his company
get a £20,000 pay-
|the 2701 (managemen
out