Actor

Actor's reasons for going to London were very different from those of Casino and Goniff. He could scarcely admit it to himself, but he had been embarrassed that he had been so badly affected by the influenza... that he was still not well and wanted to sit quietly in the house with a book on his lap and doze when he chose.

It had taken him much longer than usual to wash and dress, but he persevered. To have been seen downstairs with anything less than his usual immaculate dress would have been unthinkable. Goniff was waiting, fidgeting, at the foot of the stairs. His body language said he was no keener than the Italian to undertake the trip. Casino was just... Casino. Actor took a deep breath and finished descending the staircase. He was sure he would feel differently once he arrived in the Capital.

The Warden had given them permission to take the jeep to the station, but it had been a cold and damp morning and the air irritated his lungs. He tried to breath shallowly to avoid coughing, but for the most part it wasn't working. The train was no better, with sooty smoke from the engine mixed with fug from people's cigarettes penetrating each carriage.

By the time the train pulled into its destination, Actor wanted nothing more than to go straight home again. Even before the train had stopped, Casino was on the move, picking up his grip and shepherding Goniff onto the platform. The conman was already forgotten. The others knew he would normally abandon them when they arrived and head off on his own mission. Today the reasons might be different but to all intents and purposes it would look the same.

Public transport was in short supply, but Actor managed to secure a bicycle taxi that took him to his apartment. It had been some months since he had last entered the building and the flat had suffered in his absence. It felt cold and damp and the air smelt stale. He almost turned around then, but it felt like failure. Instead he went to the basement to retrieve a scuttle of coal then went back to make up a small fire. It exhausted his final small reserve of energy. He shed his jacket and tie, lay on the sofa and slept.

When he awoke some hours later the fire had gone out, the room was cold again and the conman felt no better but he was also hungry and there was no food in the apartment. Reluctantly he shrugged on his coat and made his way back onto the streets.

At least the small restaurant he found was warm and the food was acceptable. The wine probably was not, but there was cider on the menu that would quench his thirst and complement the pork chop that he had ordered. The man that headed back to the apartment a while later was slightly happier than the one that had headed out.

Actor made up the fire again and considered his options. It was now too late to contact any of his female friends that might still be in the Capital, and he doubted that he had the resilience to entertain them in the way they would expect to be entertained. Would he be sufficiently recovered by tomorrow night? It seemed unlikely but the Italian decided to postpone any decision until the morning. He filled two hot water bottles to warm the bed, placed a guard in front of the fire and retired to bed.

GG GG GG GG

When Actor awoke the next morning, he felt slightly better - but not enough for the conman to think it was worth his while setting up a date and reserving a table at a high class restaurant. If he tired as quickly as he had done the previous day he would probably end up asleep over the soup course. Neither the thought of walking the cold streets nor sitting with a book in the apartment appealed as a way of occupying the time until the evening.

Reluctantly he tidied the flat, packed his bag and headed for the railway station. With luck he would be back at the Mansion in time for lunch, there would be a fire burning in the common room and he could indulge in some new book from the library. It would even be relatively peaceful with both Casino and Goniff still in town.

Actor timed his arrival at the station early enough to purchase a hot drink... it couldn't be called coffee... at the buffet. As he sat nursing his cup, he spotted a familiar figure hunched on one of the benches. It was Casino... and he was alone. Finishing his drink, curiosity got the better of the conman.

"Casino?"

The safecracker looked up in surprise to see the tall Italian towering over him.

Actor looked up and down the platform, expecting to see Goniff somewhere, but of the little Cockney there was no sign.

"Little Limey ran out on me yesterday, went back to the base," offered Casino, guessing what Actor was worrying about.

Any further conversation was brought to an end by the guard who was walking down the platform encouraging any remaining passengers to board the train.

The two men did as they were asked and took their places in a somewhat dirty and depressing compartment.

Of course, even a downtrodden Casino couldn't leave well alone. "So, Beautiful, losing your touch? No dames falling over themselves to keep your bed warm?"

"I found myself insufficiently recovered to make the most of my time in London. I take it you have also had a change of plans?"

Casino was reluctant to confess to the supercilious conman just how badly things had gone for him, even though he knew Goniff would spill the beans.

"Yeah, was worried about the Limey. Thought I'd better get back and see he was OK."

Actor let the matter drop and instead stared out of the grimy window at the grey winter landscape.