see how customers rike you. Stanley no good, no joke. You work hard, make prenty money, ah?’
Steve removed another cap from. his head, and thought. If the promotion could be cemented with a loan, how long would he have to hang on to the job, anyway?
‘Won’t talk now. Talk rater. Upstairs,’ Denny said.
Stanley was walking suspiciously over.
‘You want that stuff brought down, then, Denny?’ he said.
Stanley had protuberant eyes, which missed little; also a big Adam’s apple and an adenoidal voice, none of which Denny liked.
‘Okay, I come show you,’ Denny said, impassive face registering neither like nor dislike.
A consignment of their own stuff had arrived not many days before. It was still packed in the big bales, and they got it down from the upper shelves with the small block and tackle. There was no need to measure any of this stuff, but Denny did measure a bit, for sheer pleasure. Every one went thirty inches. ‘Extleme,’ he said.
*
The early lunchers began drifting in at twelve-thirty. Denny remained in high spirits.
‘Little bastard’s in his rutting season,’ Stanley said, as they watched him take money from a blonde. When in London, Denny alone took money in the shop. When not, his Chinese partner Chen came and took it. ‘He’ll be doing a few in-seams today, you watch.’
‘Stanley, you’re awful,’ Wendy said, passing at that moment.
Stanley was awful, but right enough here, Steve saw. In cheerful mood, the chairman did show increased activity on the in-seam front. The term was a trade one for inside legmeasurement, and Denny did it in the largest, lockable, fitting room below. He preferred willowy blondes, and showed uncanny perception for those not averse to in-seam research.
‘Ay-ay,’ Stanley said presently, as the chairman lurched impassively below, arms full of jeans, in the wake of a likely number . Stanley’s Adam’s apple was oscillating, his protuberant eyes hungry. He’d never quite mustered the nerve to try himself.
Stanley had some other theories, to do with black dollars, about the large fitting room, probably also correct; certainly Denny was always closeted there with his partner after returns from the orient.
Steve objected to none of this and only rejoiced to see the chairman so cheerful. His opportunity came in the dead period after three.
‘Come upstairs now, Steve,’ Denny said.
Denny’s office was behind the stock room. To make room for extra shelving, the ceiling had been removed, all the rafters visible in Denny’s room, too. The place was quite cheerful. Long banners with flights of duck, and calligraphy, gracefully twirled.
Denny seated himself behind his desk.
‘Sit, Steve. Been thinking a rot.’
Steve sat. The chairman’s face was puckered.
‘People in this country razy. Need somebody English with energy , blain. Might make partner. In China people work hard. Might take you there, show you. Make there, sell here. Big scale. Biggest. Whatever you want to do. Ah?’
‘Well, Denny, that’s very handsome, but –’
‘I know. You want films. Understand. Young man, actlesses. Understand. But needs business , Steve. Needs money. Fantastic business here – only beginning. Whatever you want – chain stores? Make chain. Crever young man. With me together – dow!’
‘Well, damn it, Denny, I don’t know what to say …’
‘Come here, Steve. Just rook down there.’
He had stood and gone to the window, and Steve joined him.
The King’s Road slowly swarmed below in autumnal sunlight .
‘Brue, ah?’
‘Brue?’
‘Every one. Brue stuff. No Chairman Mao here. Do it all themselves. Ah?’
He turned and resumed his seat, and so did Steve.
Denny now stared very impassively, saying nothing.
Steve realized that the crunch had come, and panted a little.
‘What is actually bugging me at the moment,’ he said, ‘is that I’m stuck in this film and we need two hundred pounds.’
Denny maintained the silence.
‘Which
Steve removed another cap from. his head, and thought. If the promotion could be cemented with a loan, how long would he have to hang on to the job, anyway?
‘Won’t talk now. Talk rater. Upstairs,’ Denny said.
Stanley was walking suspiciously over.
‘You want that stuff brought down, then, Denny?’ he said.
Stanley had protuberant eyes, which missed little; also a big Adam’s apple and an adenoidal voice, none of which Denny liked.
‘Okay, I come show you,’ Denny said, impassive face registering neither like nor dislike.
A consignment of their own stuff had arrived not many days before. It was still packed in the big bales, and they got it down from the upper shelves with the small block and tackle. There was no need to measure any of this stuff, but Denny did measure a bit, for sheer pleasure. Every one went thirty inches. ‘Extleme,’ he said.
*
The early lunchers began drifting in at twelve-thirty. Denny remained in high spirits.
‘Little bastard’s in his rutting season,’ Stanley said, as they watched him take money from a blonde. When in London, Denny alone took money in the shop. When not, his Chinese partner Chen came and took it. ‘He’ll be doing a few in-seams today, you watch.’
‘Stanley, you’re awful,’ Wendy said, passing at that moment.
Stanley was awful, but right enough here, Steve saw. In cheerful mood, the chairman did show increased activity on the in-seam front. The term was a trade one for inside legmeasurement, and Denny did it in the largest, lockable, fitting room below. He preferred willowy blondes, and showed uncanny perception for those not averse to in-seam research.
‘Ay-ay,’ Stanley said presently, as the chairman lurched impassively below, arms full of jeans, in the wake of a likely number . Stanley’s Adam’s apple was oscillating, his protuberant eyes hungry. He’d never quite mustered the nerve to try himself.
Stanley had some other theories, to do with black dollars, about the large fitting room, probably also correct; certainly Denny was always closeted there with his partner after returns from the orient.
Steve objected to none of this and only rejoiced to see the chairman so cheerful. His opportunity came in the dead period after three.
‘Come upstairs now, Steve,’ Denny said.
Denny’s office was behind the stock room. To make room for extra shelving, the ceiling had been removed, all the rafters visible in Denny’s room, too. The place was quite cheerful. Long banners with flights of duck, and calligraphy, gracefully twirled.
Denny seated himself behind his desk.
‘Sit, Steve. Been thinking a rot.’
Steve sat. The chairman’s face was puckered.
‘People in this country razy. Need somebody English with energy , blain. Might make partner. In China people work hard. Might take you there, show you. Make there, sell here. Big scale. Biggest. Whatever you want to do. Ah?’
‘Well, Denny, that’s very handsome, but –’
‘I know. You want films. Understand. Young man, actlesses. Understand. But needs business , Steve. Needs money. Fantastic business here – only beginning. Whatever you want – chain stores? Make chain. Crever young man. With me together – dow!’
‘Well, damn it, Denny, I don’t know what to say …’
‘Come here, Steve. Just rook down there.’
He had stood and gone to the window, and Steve joined him.
The King’s Road slowly swarmed below in autumnal sunlight .
‘Brue, ah?’
‘Brue?’
‘Every one. Brue stuff. No Chairman Mao here. Do it all themselves. Ah?’
He turned and resumed his seat, and so did Steve.
Denny now stared very impassively, saying nothing.
Steve realized that the crunch had come, and panted a little.
‘What is actually bugging me at the moment,’ he said, ‘is that I’m stuck in this film and we need two hundred pounds.’
Denny maintained the silence.
‘Which
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