Of course there is. Well, as I was saying, she'd
been to Italy with her fellow who's a commercial traveler and that's why
I hadn't seen her. And Janie said to me, 'Do you know what they're
saying?' I said, 'No, what?' And she said, 'Did you read nearly a year
ago about a woman who was found murdered in the Euston Road? A gay woman
it was,' she said. So I said, 'Lots of women is found murdered, my dear.
I can't remember every one I see the picture of.' Well, anyone can't,
can they?" Daisy broke off to ask Michael in an injured voice. Then she
resumed her tale. "When I was with that fellow Bert I used to read
nothing else but murders all the time. Give anyone the rats, it would.
'Lots of women, my dear,' I said. And she said, 'Well, there was one in
particular who the police never found out the name of, because there
wasn't any clothing or nothing found.' So I did remember about it, and
she said, 'Well, they're saying now it was Cissie Cummings.' And I said,
'Well, what of it, if it was?' And she said, 'What of it?' she said.
'Well, if it was her,' she said, 'I know who done it.' 'Who done it?' I
asked--because, you see, I'd forgotten about this fellow Burns. 'Why,
Harry Meats,' she said. 'That fellow I saw on the Dilly the night when I
was along with you.'"

"I don't think you have enough evidence for the police," Michael
decided, with half a smile. Yet nevertheless a malaise chilled him, and
he looked over his shoulder at the mob in the beer hall.

"---- the police!" Daisy exclaimed. "I don't care about them when I'm
positive certain of something. I tell you, I know that fellow Burns, or
Meats, or whatever his name is, done it."

"But what am I to do about it?" Michael asked.

"Well, you'll get into trouble, that's all," Daisy prophesied. "You'd
look very funny if he was pinched for murder while you was out walking
with him. Ugh! It gives me the creeps. Order me a gin, there's a good
boy."

Michael obtained for Daisy her drink, and sat waiting for Barnes to
appear.

"He won't come," Daisy scoffed. "If he's feeling funny about the neck,
he won't come down here. He's never been down since that night he came
down with you. Fancy, to go and do a poor girl in like that! I'd spit in
his face, if I saw him."

"Daisy, you really mustn't assume such horrible things about a man. He's
as innocent as you or me."

"Is he?" Daisy retorted. "I don't think so then. You never saw how
shocking white his face went when Janie as