chapter nine . the pale April sunshine filtered into the back court of a Glasgow slum , throwing its soft radiance on grimy windows , blistering the already ravaged paintwork and casting long shadows across the broken masonry of the dirty evil-smelling hovels . this was Utah Street , and Utah Street was a cancerous growth in the flesh of a great city . the sunlight struggled over a thick layer of dirt on a window at ground level and lightened the interior of a room that was no better and no worse than the majority of its neighbours . an old-fashioned range , yellowed by rust , housed the dying embers of a fire that made the airless kitchen a veritable oven of unpleasant odours . at the table , littered with a motley collection of articles , ranging from empty beer bottles to discarded articles of clothing , sat the man known only by the appellation of Gaffer . among this wreckage of human society , Gaffer was probably the most defeated of all the wretched inhabitants who called Utah Street home . Gaffer was an alien in their midst , but the ways of a bully soon make their mark and he swiftly earned a reputation for himself as a man who could defend his chosen way of life . in five short years he was not only accepted but had become a leading light in a rapidly dying empire of squalor and decay . Gaffer bent his head over the newspaper bearing the day &apos;s racing forecast , oblivious of the sun , the advent of spring and the murmur of voices from the pontoon school in the corner of the yard . his forefinger travelled slowly down the list of probable starters for the three-thirty at Newmarket . thoughtfully he tapped his teeth with a pencil as he deliberated over the rival merits of the two horses of his choice . nothing in it as regards the starting prices . it was simply a matter of choosing the right horse . he smiled to himself as he fingered the five one-pound notes lying before him on the table . a couple of good winners today and he could live it up for a week or so . might even go away for a couple of days . reaching for the form book he thumbed through its battered pages in search of the information he required . when he had made his choice he rose and strode to the door . he crossed the narrow close and planted a savage foot on the panel of the opposite door . a small shrivelled creature craned a startled head round the jamb , the cadaverous features creased into a nervous smirk . a&apos;right , Gaffer . I &apos;m coming . he jerked on his threadbare jacket and shuffled after the other back to the stuffy humidity of the kitchen . you wantin&apos; somethin&apos; , Gaffer ? you do n&apos;t think I enjoy your scintillating company , do you ? Gaffer scribbled on a slip of paper and tucked the banknotes into its fold . nip round to Sammy and give him this . wait until the race is over . a slow grin revealed his perfect teeth . I &apos;m expecting thirty quid back . you floppin&apos; five quid on one horse ? what &apos;s that got to do with you ? nothin&apos; , Gaffer , nothin&apos; . I just thought it &apos;s a bit risky , that &apos;s a&apos; . and who asked you to do the thinking around here ? Gaffer &apos;s lip curled in disgust . go on , beat it , and if you get nicked , I &apos;ll paper the walls with you . glad to make his escape Lofty scuttled off down the close , grateful that the other was in such a mellow mood . less than forty minutes later he returned bearing in a shaking hand thirty one-pound notes . goggle-eyed , he watched Gaffer count his winnings . he separated three from the pile and contemptuously threw them on the floor . go on , buy yourself a Rolls-Royce , he sneered . a jerk of his head signalled dismissal . do n&apos;t go away . I might want you later on . sure , Gaffer . I &apos;ll be next door . Gaffer returned to his study of his newspaper . this was his day . he could feel it . swiftly he scanned the sheet for the greyhound runners . yes , he was sure Dosser had said he was running the Slob tonight . tentatively , he fingered his winnings . should he risk it all in one fell swoop ? yes , he decided at last , why not , it was time he had a run of luck in any case . he rose and moved to the broken triangle of mirror hanging above the sink . he studied his image with petulant concentration . always a victim of his over-developed imagination he thought himself a luckless individual for whom nothing ever went right . he possessed a persecution complex that frequently reduced him to a maudlin hulk of self-pity whenever opposition reared its ugly head , but Gaffer , the supreme egotist , saw none of this as he examined the face looking back at him through that distorted glass . spruced up and clean-shaven , he was n&apos;t a bad-looking man , he decided . his jawline was firm and there was no surplus flesh gathering on his tall frame . the mouth curled sardonically as he smoothed back his thick dark hair revealing again a glimpse of his teeth , strong and white as blanched almonds . he drew in a deep breath and was on the point of turning back to his newspaper when his eye fell on an out-of-date magazine lying on the floor . a photograph taken at a recent film premi&amp;egrave;re held his attention . slowly he stooped to lift the magazine and an idea began to ferment in his quick brain . an idea so daring and yet so audaciously tempting that a shiver of excitement quivered through him . he studied the photograph for a long time before throwing aside the book and returning to his study of the racing column , but this time his concentration was fired by the flame of incentive . a sharp rap on the door brought a frown of impatience to his face and with a low growl he gave permission to enter . the panel swung open to admit a narrow-shouldered man in a black su&amp;egrave;de zipper jerkin and tight Italian trousers . &apos;lo Gaffer . heard you &apos;d a bit of luck on the three-thirty . want a certainty for the dogs tonight ? such as ? sneered Gaffer . Hurly Burly . that dog &apos;s jet propelled . Cuddy Gallagher winked . over &apos;n above that , I happen to know he &apos;s been got at by the boys . Gaffer &apos;s eyes narrowed . that a sure thing ? sure as death . Cuddy &apos;s sleek head jerked in the direction of the table . want me to lay some of that lot on for you ? Gaffer lifted the money and slipped two notes into his pocket . there &apos;s twenty-five quid there . lose it and I &apos;ll kill you . I &apos;ll be at Joe &apos;s place tonight but do n&apos;t let anyone see you flash my money around . Cuddy peeled off five notes before stowing the remainder away . commission , he laconically explained . well , I &apos;m away . see you later . tell the Wop I want to see him . I have nae time to look for that wee greaser , Cuddy objected . if you want this lot on in time it &apos;ll need to be done right away . sent Lofty to do your dirty work . look , a dangerous glint appeared in Gaffer &apos;s bright eyes , I &apos;ll decide who does what . you get that money on first then look for the Wop . tonight I &apos;m going to clean up so you &apos;d better warn Sammy to keep plenty of the ready by him . I want a hundred nicker off him before I &apos;m finished . Cuddy emitted a low soundless whistle . that &apos;s a lot of change . yes , but I &apos;ll get it . you &apos;ll be lucky . you bet I am . I &apos;m on the right streak tonight , I can feel it . Cuddy saw the look of fanaticism on the other &apos;s face . he did not recognize it as such , but it was sufficient to tell him that this was not the moment to argue . O.K , so you &apos;re lucky , he swiftly placated . have it your own way . Gaffer lifted the half-empty whisky bottle from the sink-board and sloshed a liberal quantity into a tumbler . here &apos;s to your information being correct , Cuddy , because if it is n&apos;t &amp;hellip; . his arm flashed out and grabbed hold of a handful of su&amp;egrave;de jacket , you &apos;d better not show your face back here , unless you want me to work on it with a razor . hate rose in Cuddy like mercury in a thermometer but fear stifled his reply as the grip on his throat tightened . listen , Gaffer , he whispered in desperation , even if that dog wins , you &apos;ll no&apos; get a hundred quid back . he swallowed with difficulty . it &apos;s only runnin&apos; at even money . when you get the winnings , put it on the Slob in the eight-fifteen . what , all of it ? all of it . Gaffer threw him away and wiped his hand on the seat of his trousers . if Sammy runs out of cash lay the second bet with Kruger . now get out of my sight before I &amp;hellip; . he grinned as he realized he was talking to himself . he was well aware of the fact that he was taking a chance in giving Cuddy a free hand with so much at stake , but he was fairly confident of his hold over the craven-hearted little tout . some thirty minutes later he was still avidly studying the photograph that seemed to fascinate him , when Louie Morri sidled into the room . it did not take Gaffer long to explain what he wanted the Italian to do . well , he concluded , what about it ? can you do it ? Louis looked worried . sure , I think so , Gaffer , but it &apos;sa no&apos; easy . his big dark eyes swivelled upwards uneasily . it &apos;sa goin&apos; to costa lota money , Gaffer . I needa special stuffa from up-town an&apos; it &apos;sa no&apos; easy to geta . his podgy hands turned palm upwards . you see how it is . it &apos;sa no&apos; easy . if you say that once more , I &apos;ll ram your teeth down your throat . Gaffer leaned menacingly nearer . now listen , Wop , and listen well . you &apos;re going to do this job for me without any more argument . if you do it right , you &apos;ll get paid right . if not , then I &apos;m afraid I &apos;ll have to get rough . his breath fanned the little man &apos;s face . you would n&apos;t like that , Louie . Maria would n&apos;t like it either , so you &apos;d better find out a nice easy way of doing it or you &apos;re liable to be up to your fat neck in trouble , Louie boy . stark fear turned the Italian &apos;s skin yellow . I do it . I do it . no&apos; to worry , Gaffer , I do it . that &apos;s better . I do n&apos;t like when people argue , Louie . you ought to know that by this time . he swung round on the ball of his foot as the other winced and moved out of range . he smiled . it &apos;s all right , Louie , I &apos;m not going to hurt you &amp;hellip; yet . I do n&apos;t think I have to tell you to keep your mouth shut , do I ? one cheep out of you and Maria will be putting down an instalment on a nice marble headstone . you understand , Louie . Louie &apos;s head rocked back and forward like a hinged flap . it &apos;sa a&apos;right , Gaffer . I no&apos; open my moutha . I would n&apos;t , Louie , not if I were you , Gaffer advised . just you keep thinking that way and everything will be all right . he escorted his nervous visitor to the door . you go back to the shop and I &apos;ll send Cuddy down when he comes in . you can make out a list of the stuff you need and I &apos;ll get it for you . how long would it take ? Louie thought carefully . no&apos; very longa . a couple of weeks I think . O.K . see you later . his finger poked belligerently in the other &apos;s face . now , remember , keep your mouth shut about this , or &amp;hellip; . he made an expressive gesture with his forefinger . I keep my moutha shut , Louie promised fervently . chapter ten . Mark &apos;s feet made no sound on the smooth turf as he walked slowly towards the chestnut tree . Christiane was sitting with her back to him , her fair head bent over a book . he stood motionless for a moment , watching her , his look gravely compassionate as he noted the rug draped over her legs . 