Part 10 (1/2)

'My dear young lady,' he said, 'surely you won't deprive an old fellow of your charming company? I a.s.sure you he won't be long.'

'Nevertheless,' said Polly, 'I think that '

'I insist.' Perkins' tone dropped its usually oily smoothness and became firm.

'No,' said Polly, pus.h.i.+ng his hand away.

'Then,' said Perkins, 'I shall rouse the watch. They may be interested in two such genteel orange wenches.'

Polly stared helplessly at him for a moment and then sat down again.

'That's better,' he said. 'Now to pa.s.s the time. What say you to a round of whist?'

Polly looked at him. 'Whist?' she said. 'I can't play whist.'

Perkins felt in his pocket and brought out a pack of playing cards and placed them on the table. 'It's quite easy,' he said, 'you can soon learn.' He started to deal the cards just as an old woman came around the side of the part.i.tion and slid in next to him, speaking in a quavery voice.

'You need four for whist.'

Perkins hardly bothered to look at the bundle of clothes that had thrust itself in next to him. 'Kindly remove yourself, madam.'

Polly looked closely across the table at the face beneath the cap and, recognising it, clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles. The Doctor, in no hurry, spread his skirts and picked up and finished off Perkins'

gla.s.s of sherry.

'Nothing finer than a round of whist,' squeaked the Doctor. 'Who is to deal?'

Perkins, his fat jowls quivering indignantly, stood up to his full five foot four. 'Madam, I told you ' he raised his hand to call for the innkeeper, then became aware of Grey's pistol levelled at his heart.

'I'm sure you'd oblige an auld woman,' the Doctor said in his piping Scots' tone.

Perkins hand fell, his mouth gaped open. He looked closely at the Doctor's face. 'The German Doctor!' he exclaimed.

The Doctor nodded. 'Yes,' he said. 'Uh, would you deal, Kirsty, and perhaps,' he added 'you would like to count the trumps, Perkins?'

Perkins slowly subsided, feeling the pressure of the Doctor's pistol against his ribs. Kirsty expertly cut the cards and started dealing. Across the room, the door flung open and Grey entered in a furious temper. The Doctor saw him, lowered his head so that his face was obscured by his bonnet and, hiding the gun with his shawl, managed to keep the muzzle pointed at Perkins' waistcoat. 'Don't say a word,' he whispered.

Grey looked around the room, then spotted Perkins at the table and strode over. 'Perkins!' he said, 'what the devil are you doing, man?'

Perkins opened his mouth to speak and felt the nudge of the pistol barrel. 'Ah,' he said, 'I'm just playing a round of cards, Mr Grey.'

Grey gave the others a quick glance. 'Indeed,' he said, 'well, you can just come up to my room with me, we need more contracts.' He turned away.

'Mr Grey...' Polly began.

The Doctor leaned across and touched Polly on the arm, shaking his head.

'Oh, nothing...' said Polly.

Grey looked keenly back, struck by the, as he would have put it, aristocratic English accent, but there were more important matters to see to. He turned on his heel and walked out. 'Hurry up, Perkins,' he shouted over his shoulder.

Perkins rose. 'I must go,' he said.

The Doctor stopped him for a moment. 'Remember you've seen nothing,' he said.

'Eh?' Perkins replied.

'Your eyes, remember,' said the Doctor. 'You wouldn't want another headache, now, would you?'

'N-n-no, of course not,' said Perkins.

'I'll tell you what's going to happen,' said the Doctor, 'we ladies are going to leave first. You're going to sit here comfortably for ten minutes before you get up to go.'

Perkins stared at him in a complete panic. 'But Mr Grey ' he began.

The Doctor continued: 'Because I shall be watching you for all that time, and one move, and...' He raised the pistol again.

Perkins nodded his head unhappily, sweat pouring off his brow. 'Yes, sir, I understand sir.'

'Come girls,' said the Doctor, 'let us leave this rough place. I'm sure he'd have cheated anyway.' As they walked across to the door he looked back at Perkins. 'Ten minutes, remember.'

Perkins nodded, almost in tears. 'Ten minutes.'

Once outside the inn, Polly and Kirsty looked around quickly, then urged the Doctor forward.

'Where are we going?' said the Doctor.

'Don't worry,' said Polly, 'we've found a hiding place.

It's quite safe. Come on.'

Following the back lanes of Inverness, they came to the barn set at the back of a large stables.

'We're quite safe in here,' said Polly, opening the door.

Once inside, the three, out of breath, sank down in the hay, and Polly began laughing. 'The sight of that horrid little man's face,' she said, 'when you stuck the gun under his nose.'

For the first time, Kirsty also started laughing. 'It was a picture right enou'.'

The Doctor brought out the pistol, aimed it at the far side of the barn, c.o.c.ked it, and started to squeeze the trigger.

'Careful, Doctor!' said Polly, alarmed.

'Och,' said Kirsty, 'you'll bring the town down upon us.'