I said, ‘As maybe! But they get downright paranoid with a flash one even more. Do you have to be so blatant with the cash? I mean I’ve heard of conspicuous consumption but this is friggin’ rubbin’ their noses in it.’

‘Ah Cooper, me oul segotia, you worry too much. You can’t take it with you.’

‘Yeah, but you’re hell bent on letting every other bastard take it with him.’

‘You’re a miserable sod, why are the English so cautious?’

‘’Cos we have to deal with you flamin’ paddies is why. We’ll have to pull another job sooner than planned.’

I caught his eye, signalled the corner booth, our office of sorts. Wading through the crowd, he was pumping hands, yelling hello, home is the fuckin’ hero. His face was awash in sweat and his eyes alight. Threw an arm round me, asked, ‘How’s it cutting, yah worry guts?’

‘Sit down Doc, I need to talk.’

‘Uh-uh, you got a girl in trouble?’

‘Just listen OK, can you fuckin’ do that, take five minutes off from the hearty hail-fuck-well-met, can you.’

It lashed him, his eyes lost their light a moment, as if a candle had been blown out, I said, ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean that but I need your undivided.’

He sat down, took out a hankie, with his team colours, mopped his face, said, ‘Oh you meant it alright. But sometimes I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll never get motoring again, I keep bein’ afraid I’ll miss something. Anyway, fire away.’

I gave him a rundown on the day, covered near all. He looked into my face, asked, ‘Did you give her one?’

‘What?’

‘Did you ride her?’

‘Good Lord, why don’t you just come right out and ask me… why beat about the bush?’

‘Sounds like you beat around the old bush. So… did you do the business, give her a rub of the relic.’