``Well'' -- said Mr. Skyros. ``I take a little time to think it over.'' It was awkward: very awkward. There would be all the nuisance of contacting someone else to take over. Someone reasonably trustworthy. And Angie would hear about it. And Angie knew --

``Time,'' said Angie, and he smiled very sweet and slow at Mr. Skyros. ``Not too much time, because I'll be needing some more myself pretty much right away. And I done favors for you, big favor not so long back, didn't I, and I'm right here to take on where Pretty left off. No trouble. I don't want no trouble, you don't want no trouble, nobody wants trouble, Mr. Skyros.''

Dear heaven, no, thought Mr. Skyros, turning away as another man came in. He straightened his tie at the mirror with a shaking hand; the genial smile seemed painted on his face. Angie knew -- Speak of dangerous information! Angie knew too much entirely already. Really he had Mr. Skyros at bay.

``Big favor I done you. Acourse there's this deal o' Denny's -- and Jackie's -- kinda hangin ' fire, ain't it, maybe you've been kinda worryin' over that. And cann't say I blame you,'' said Angie thoughtfully. ``This deal with the ace o' spades. Anything to do with an ace o' spades, bad luck.''

Ace of spades -- a widow, that was what they called a widow, these low-class crooks remembered Mr. Skyros distractedly. All about that Angie knew, too. When things got a little out of hand, they very rapidly got a lot out of hand -- it seemed to be a general rule. All just by chance, and in a way tracing back to poor Frank, all of it, because naturally -- brothers, living together -- and Angie --