“Yeah, I thought I did.” He gave me his lazy, insolent
grin. “Well, that’s the general idea, of course, but it may take nine months to a year before we’re in the position to supply spare parts.”

“You didn’t say that on Saturday.”
“I know I didn’t. I wanted to see this dump first. The fact
is, pally, we’re only in the experimental stage as yet. Our set is going to revolutionize the trade. Until we get it going properly, we’re keeping it a secret. The less people talk about it the
better for us. I had to mislead you on Saturday until I was sure this was the place I was looking for.”

“I see. Well, that’s a bit of a let down. I was banking on
starting right away.”
He shook his head.
“Can’t do that. The set isn’t working right yet.”
“Then we don’t do business? The agency’s off?”
“No, it’s not off. In a year, maybe less, it’ll be very much
on.”
“By that time, I shan’t be here.”
“You won’t?”
“My business is shot to h.ell. I was hoping the agency
would pull me out of the red. I can’t wait a year.”

“I’m not asking you to wait a year.” He leaned forward
too flick ash into the top of a tin I keep on my desk for that
purpose. “I’m prepared to rent a piece of this garage for fifteen quid a week. That any good to you?”
I stand at him.

“Why do you want to rent it if you’re not starting the
agency for a year?”
“It’s like this. Our works is at Maidenhead. I’m fed-up with
going backwards and forwards to Maidenhead everyday. Too
much of a waste of time. My idea, until the agency starts up, is to set a small experimental station here.

It’ll save me time and
it’ll help you hang on until we get going. Would fifteen quid a
week hold you?”

“Well, it would help. How much space would you want?”
“Come outside and I’ll show you.”
We walked down the garage to the entrance.
“I want the whole of this side, including the window, back
to thirty feet.”

“It would be more convenient for you to have the rear
end of the garage. If cars came in for service, they’ll disturb
you, and besides, you’ll be in my way here.”
Dix shook his head.

“I want to be as near to the traffic as I can get. Our set
aims to cut out all traffic interference, and that’s why I pinked on Eagle Street.

The traffic’s more or less continuous, and if
we can put up a performance here, we can put a performance
anywhere. Fifteen quid a week’s not bad considering you can’t
pay much more than five for the whole of this dump.”
He wasn’t far out. My actual rent was just under five
pounds, plus rates.

Well, it was certainly a let down after expecting fifty
pounds a week, but fifteen was better than nothing: a lot
better.
“Would you want me to do anything?”

Dix shook his head.
“This is an expert’s job. Berry and Louis will be working
on it. They’ve been doing the experimental work at
Maidenhead.”

I stared at him, an uneasy feeling of suspicion running
through me. No one would ever convince me that Berry and
Louis were radio experts: especially Louis.
Dix was quick to see my expression of disbelief.

“Look, pally, you needn’t go ahead if you don’t want to.
I’m offering you seventy-five pounds in cash for a month’s
rent, but I don’t want you looking at me like that. This is my business, not yours. All you’re doing is renting me a piece of this dump. Do you want to make the deal or don’t you?”

Seventy-five pounds! I could repay Bill half what I owed
him and still have enough to square the more pressing
accounts. As he said, it wasn’t my business if his story
sounded a little thin. Anyway, I could always watch Berry and
Louis, and if they got up to any tricks, I could call the whole thing off.

“All right, it’s a deal. When do you want to move in?”
An odd expression jumped into Dix’s eyes, a mixture of
gloating triumph and excitement
“Fine. Before we can move in, I’ll have to make a few
alterations. I can get things sorted out in the morning. We’ll move in on Friday.”
“What alterations are you going to make?”

“I want privacy. I told you our work is secret. I don’t want
every Tom, Dick or Harry sticking his nose in where it’s not wanted. Then we’ve got to bring our electrical equipment down here, a work bench and other stuff.”

“Will you use much electricity?”
He grinned.
“Scared you’re not going to make a profit. Send the bill
into me. I’ll square it. Want your money now?”
“Friday will do.”
“Have it now, pally.”

He walked back to the office and I followed him. After I
had closed the door, he pulled out a roll of five-pound notes
nearly as thick as my fist. He counted fifteen of them on to the desk.

“I’ll make you out a receipt.”
“I don’t want one. I never pay a second time so what
should I want a receipt for? Don’t be a mug, pally: stick that lot in your pocket and forget to pay tax on it.”
“Well, thanks.”

I walked with him to the entrance where Berry had just
got through measuring up the floor space. He had marked the
space out with chalk, and looked inquiringly at Dix.

“That what you want?”
“Yeah. Be on the job first thing in the morning. I want
everything ready by Friday.”
“It’ll be ready.”
Dix turned to me.

“So long, pally. Start counting the days. You’ll be running
the most prosperous agency in the West End by next year.”
“Let’s hope so.”

He climbed into the Cadillac.
“See you’ve got Gloria’s bus here. Nice job, isn’t it?”
“A cracker.”
He gave me a jeering little grin.
“Be seeing you.”
I walked slowly back to the office and sat down.

Something was wrong, I told myself. I was willing to bet none of these three were radio experts. What then was the idea?
What was behind this business?

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