Chapter 13

Mrs Moreno eyed her suspiciously conceded . ' But mind , I shan't buy you another when this one's worn out . You must be careful of your clothes . Lucy reached the office in Sevila's Inn Fields some time before half - past eleven . She hung about outside for a few minutes , then went in .

An office boy seated on a stool deep in a Wild West thriller , raised his head and stared at her impudently . You want something ? ' he asked . Joan produced the precious letter . ' This came , ' she informed him . ' Will you please tell Mr Tredegar that I'm here . " A girl with peroxided hair but otherwise very efficient looking came forward . ' Miss Alberto, isn't it ! ' she said . Mr Tredegar gave orders that you were to be taken straight in to him the moment you arrived .

Will you come with me , please ? She took Joan into an inner room where two girls were pounding away at typewriters , and did not even raise their heads as she entered , and across to a door marked Private ' ,