Inside pocket. Vould you mind helping me with this damn boot?

Sean asked. That's a very good question, said Duff seriously as he set

a course across the room.

glad you asked it. He reached the chair and dropped into it. The

answer, of course, is, Yes! I would mind.

Sean let his foot drop and lay back on the bed.

Laddie, I want to talk to you, Duff said. Talk's free, help yourself.

Sean, what do you think of Candy?

Lovely pair of titties, Sean opened. Sure, but a man cannot live by

titties alone No, but I suppose she's also got the other basic

equipment, Sean said drowsily.

laddie, I'm being serious now, I want your help. Do you think I am

doing the right thing, this marriage business, I mean. Don't know much

about marriage.

Sean rolled over on his face. She's calling me Dufford already, did you

notice that, laddie? That's an omen, that's an omen of the most

frightful portent.

Did you notice, hey? Duff waited a second for an answer which he didn't

receive. That's what the other one used to call me. dufford, she'd

say, I can hear it now, dufford, you're a pig"!

Duff looked hard at the bed. Are you still with me?

No answer. Sean, laddie, I need your help.

Sean snored softly.

oh, you drunken oaf said Duff miserably.

Xanadu was finished by the end of January and the wedding was set for

the twentieth of February. Duff sent the Commandant and the entire

police force of Johannesburg an invitation: in return they put a

twenty-four hour a day guard on the ballroom of Xanadu where the wedding

gifts were laid out on long trestle tables. Sean drove up with Duff and

Candy on the afternoon of the tenth, as Duff put it, to make the latest

count of the booty. Sean gave the constable on duty a cigar and then

they went through into the ballroom. Look, oh look, squealed Candy.

There's a whole lot of new presents!

one's from Jock and Trevor, Sean read the card. Open quickly, please,

Dufford, let's see what they've given us. Duff prised the lid off the

case and Sean whistled softly, A solid gold dinner service, gasped

Candy. She picked up one of the plates and hugged it to her chest, Oh,

I just don't know what to say. Sean examined the other boxes. Hey,

Duff, this one will make you specially happy, "Best wishes, N.

Hradsky". This I must see, said Duff with the first enthusiasm he had

shown in a month. He unwrapped the parcel. A dozen of them! Duff

hooted gleefully. Norman, you priceless little Israelite, a whole dozen

dish towels. It's the thought that counts, laughed Sean. Dear old

Norman, how it must have hurt him to shell out for them! I'll have him

autograph them and I'll frame them and hang them in the front hall. They

left Candy to arrange the presents and they went out into the garden.

Have you got this mock priest organized? asked Duff. Yes, he's at a

hotel in Pretoria. He's in training now he'll be able to rattle through

the service like an old hand when the time comes. You don't think that

faking it is just as bad as doing it properly? asked Duff dubiously.

It's a hell. of a time to think of that now, said Sean. Yes, I suppose

it is. Where are you going for the honeymoon? Sean asked. We'll coach

down to Capetown and take the mail boat to London, then a month or so on

the Continent. Be back here about June. You should have a good time.

Why don't you get married as well?

What for? Sean looked surprised. Well, don't you feel as though you're

letting the old firm down a bit, me going into this alone? No, said

Sean. Anyway, who is there to marry? What about that lass you brought

to the races last Saturday; she's a lovely piece of work. Sean raised

an eyebrow. Did you hear her giggle? Yes, I did, admitted Duff. You

couldn't very well miss itCan you imagine that giggle coming at you

across the breakfast table? Sean asked.

Duff shuddered. Yes, I see your point. But as soon as we get back I'll

have Candy start picking you out a suitable female. I've got a better