‘Thank you for your kind words.’
‘May I ask –’ Donovan withdrew the pipe slowly ‘– how long have you been doing this?’
‘Three years, give or take.’
‘Three years.’ Donovan nodded his head back. ‘Barely any time at all, but you have your enterprise and your wealth, I suspect, all made in just three years. The Den has a considerable value attached to it, does it not?’
‘I doubt many would deem it valuable in a conventional sense.’
‘Monetary, of course. If that is conventionally enough.’ Donovan oozed confidence. Franco wasn’t blind to what he had walked into, identifying a predator on first sight in a place where he feasted on others. Pilgrims had an appearance of legitimacy but the muscle behind the bar and situated by the entrance eliminated that notion. This exchange was being watched, but for what reason he was still uncertain.
‘Considerable,’ Franco agreed, playing the game.
‘Considerable. Yes, I expected no less.’
‘Would you like to elaborate on your proposition now?’
‘My what?’
‘Your proposition.’
‘It’s not mine in any sense of the word, Mister Monaire.’ He lingered on an exhalation. ‘I speak on behalf of a benefactor who is impressed by the work you do. I appreciate that you would be unable to discuss figures – but to him, that is not of concern. What he has taken to, is your freedom. You take your business from town to village and you put on a show. People forget their cares. For a handful of hours, everybody’s life is made better.’
‘That we do.’
‘You do indeed!’ Donovan cheered, clapping his hands together. ‘What you achieve cannot be bought. Or at least that’s the impression folks have.’
‘Maybe.’
‘But we know business, do we not? Everything, everything in this world has a price. Tell me, Franco, are you familiar with the term franchise?’
‘I’ve a notion.’
‘And an interest in being one?’
‘No.’ Franco leant back. ‘Just one Den is enough. Having any more running about would bring me to an early grave. It’s a hardship to manage just the one.’
‘Quite the pity, but understandable. Still, this does not detract from my benefactor’s proposal. The reputation you have with this train of yours is invaluable. It is this that he wishes to obtain.’
‘I’m sorry, obtain?’
‘He would like to make an offer to purchase the Gambler’s Den from you.’ Donovan’s face fell into seriousness. ‘Please state your price.’
‘Excuse me, I think there’s been a mistake,’ Franco said, rejecting the new offer to smoke from the pipe between then. ‘You think that I’m willing to sell?’
Donovan emptied his tumbler of alcohol and sat it on the table’s veneer. ‘If it is concern for your staff that worries you, there is no need. Current employees’ contracts would be honoured of course, with no change in salary or conditions. Security is so hard to find these days, would you not agree? It is such a charity to be provided. There would be very little in the way of changes to your operation if that is of a concern. I assure you, the man who I represent – his reserves are inexhaustible.’
‘I imagine they are.’ Franco mulled over this for a moment. ‘May I know the name of this generous individual?’
‘It was decided that he should remain anonymous.’ A waiter strolled alongside them, taking the glass away without a word. ‘In case an agreement was not made.’
Clearly, Franco assessed, this man was not getting the point. It wasn’t a case of money. ‘Let me put this another way. I have no intention to sell my train. I believe there has been some sort of mistake and I’m afraid you are wasting your time.’
Donovan leant forward, hunching himself on approach. His thin mouth slipped out every world like a viper’s hiss, direct and in warning. ‘I disagree. Like I said, everything and more importantly everybody has a price, especially with the life we are accustomed to. Freedom and security are traits that are never given, only bought, and if you have nothing to pay with, then they cannot be assured. We know all about the Gambler’s Den, Franco. Trouble follows you wherever you go, and we assume this not to be, shall we say, coincidental. No, coincidental it is not, but unfortunate, most definitely. I believe you have difficulties these days with scores of outlaws. These bandits as they are called – thugs no less – they are innumerable, no? Relentless.’
Franco gave a cold reply. ‘We’re a good score for them.’
‘Again, most unfortunate. And it is with this that we come back to the concept of security. Maybe not so much for your train there, but for your employees. It would be terrible if they were accidentally harmed by these brutish individuals.’ Donovan licked his lips before sitting back again. ‘Weighty for the conscience.’
Franco was unable to ascertain if this was a suggestion or a threat. Certainly there was a sinister nature about Donovan Kane, which had been seemingly dressed up, hidden behind a good suit and clean shave, but to what extent Franco had difficulty discerning.
‘The people, the business …’ Franco drummed his fingers on the wood before scooting his chair back and standing up. ‘It’s one and the same to me. Thank you for your time, Mister Kane, but I assure you that the Gambler’s Den will always remain my property, though I am flattered by your interest. It has been a pleasure.’
‘Franco!’ Donovan called out. His doing so coaxed a pause in Franco’s movements who was well aware of the sentry, who now looked for any sign of required interference. ‘These are harsh times, Franco, where a fortune is won and lost in the smallest of moments. Please do consider this proposal. It’s an opportunity to alleviate any future hardships and a wise choice to make.’
* * *
‘I don’t understand why you’re angry.’
Misu watched Franco peel the shirt from his skin, push it into a linen basket, and remove a fresh one from his wardrobe. It never occurred to him that Misu might watch him, a little too intently whilst changing, but he had seen her in a worse state of undress and never thought twice about it. The private car was decidedly off limits to anyone without his permission to enter, though Misu had earned the exception by acting as a confidante.
She sat with legs dangling from his bed, which was a large affair with bright red satin sheets and matching décor. The pillows were always plump, the mattress perfectly between soft and firm, a place to truly enjoy one’s sleep. It was unlike Misu’s single bed, which lacked such comforts and privacy.
‘Buy, Misu.’ Franco scowled, brushing his hair in a full-length mirror with hard, violent swipes of the brush. ‘He wanted to buy me. I cannot imagine a notion more annoying.’ He placed the brush down, with no small measure of noise, and walked to her, pushing every golden button through its accompanying hole.
‘Not so much you, but the Den itself,’ Misu corrected him, patting his hands away. Franco had missed a button in his frustration and seemed not to have noticed. Delicate fingers casually corrected this. ‘There is a stark difference.’
‘Not to me there’s not.’
‘Not to you, of course.’
‘I am the Gambler’s Den,’ he replied. ‘It is me.’
‘You are many things, dear,’ Misu