Edgar Wallace

“ Again Mr Fanks puffed noisily.
“Obviously,” he said slowly. “Grey Timothy must not win. I don’t profess to know much about race-horses—in fact, frankly, my dear Pinlow, I do not exactly approve of horse-racing”—he was a little pompous, and pompousness fitted him remarkably well—“but—er—I might be able to help you. I’m acquainted with a clever man who knows a great deal about horses. This is one Smith.” ”

“ Fanks went on. “My friend here stands to lose a lot of money over Grey Timothy; now, Smith, we all know how bad it makes a man feel to lose money—eh? Not a nice experience—um?”
Smith shook his head.
“Now, suppose,” said Fanks carefully, “suppose this horse isn’t as good as my friend thinks he is; suppose you and my friend had a look at him.”
“Right,” said Smith, and shot a cunning glance at Pinlow. “Same’s we looked at Iron Pyrites,” he said.
“Remember,” warned the virtuous Fanks, “I want to know nothing—I know nothing. You’ve got to make your own arrangements.” He looked at his watch. ”

“ It’s the little man who does not work, who makes his living by his wits, who needs the mental refreshment which communion with his fellow-man alone can give him.”
Fanks needed little encouragement to make a speech. Rhetoric was his long suit, and Pinlow, who knew his weakness, did not attempt to encourage him. Fortunately, no sooner had Fanks got well started on the subject of the brainfulness of criminals, than the car turned out of the Euston Road into Slippington Street. ”

“ They went down the lift, through the vestibule of the hotel to the street.
“Drive us to Slippington Street, Somers Town—I’ll tell you where to stop.”
On the journey Mr Fanks enlightened the other as to the character of the rendezvous where he hoped to find the redoubtable ‘Tinker’.
“You’ve never heard of the Freedom Club, I suppose?” he asked. “It’s a sort of working men’s club run for men who don’t work.” He chuckled at his own little witticism.
“After all, they are the people who require a club,” he said, shooting a sly look at the other. “A working-man ought to be at work. ”