"Yes?" the voice said.

Corinne trembled with new fear. Another of Julius' whores probably.

"It's Corinne Nelson," she said. "Is Julius there?"

"Who?"

"Corinne Nelson."

"Wait a moment."

There was a horrible pause. Then the door buzzed and she pushed it open and went up.

"Well, Aunt Corinne," Julius said, leaning on the door, regarding her with a funny smile as she came down the corridor. "What brings you to the sinful city?"

"I-I wanted to talk to you," Corinne said. He took her in and waved her into a large padded chair. "Can I get you a drink?"

"No, no thank you," Corinne said and put her purse on the floor.

"Tell me, Aunt Corinne," he said, flopping onto the sofa, "how come a gorgeous bit of stuff like you never gets laid?"

He grinned and Corinne blushed to the roots of her lovely blonde hair.

"I came to ask your help, Julius," she said. "I'm in an awful fix. I lost my job, and I'm broke, and I have to pay a lot of bills this month. And I wondered if you could give me enough to make through until I get another job, and I'll pay you back right away, and I'm sorry but…"

"Hold on," he said, waving his arm at her. "How much do you need?"

Corinne gulped. "Well, about three thousand."

"Three thousand?"

She nodded, feeling worse than ever.

He questioned her further, getting all the humiliating details out.

"Hmmmm," he said, "wait a moment."

He got up and Corinne thought that success had added to his tail dark and, she had to admit it, handsome looks. He walked with an air of authority as he went into the kitchen, and she heard him talking in low tones to the woman who had answered the bell. At one point she giggled and made Corinne fed even worse.