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the giant would look favourably on his risking arrest by a return to pickpocketry.
    Besides, Creecher did not seem best pleased as it was. He had gazed at Billy expectantly when he had begun his report, but his expression grew grimmer and grimmer, as though a great shadow was passing across his face.
    When Billy had completed his observations about the two men’s shopping expedition, Creecher sat in silence for a long while. Billy could sense anger, but there was also disappointment – as though he had hoped to hear something but had not.
    ‘You need new clothes,’ said Creecher finally.
    ‘No, I don’t,’ said Billy defensively. He looked down at the threadbare rags he was wearing and sighed. ‘Well, maybe a coat wouldn’t go amiss. Some better shoes maybe.’
    ‘You need new clothes,’ repeated the giant. ‘You are following two gentlemen tourists. You need to be able to go where they go without being thrown out.’
    ‘Yeah?’ said Billy. ‘Well, if you don’t mind me saying, you’re no Beau Brummell yourself.’
    It was Creecher’s turn to look at the poor and ill-fitting clothes he was wearing. He nodded, pouting a little.
    ‘Agreed. We both need new clothes.’
    ‘And you’ve got money, have you?’
    Creecher shrugged.
    ‘I have no need for money,’ he replied.
    ‘Well, ain’t you the lucky one,’ said Billy. ‘You might be able to snatch a pie or what-have-you, but you can hardly stroll into a tailor’s and make off with new suits for us both now, can you? Besides, you ain’t exactly your standard measurements.’
    Creecher took a deep breath and stared hard at Billy from under his hat. Billy caught his breath, wondering if he had spoken too boldly.
    ‘Do you know a place where we can get clothes?’
    Billy nodded.
    ‘Somewhere discreet?’
    Billy nodded again.
    ‘I know just the man down Clerkenwell way: Gratz is his name. He’s all right. He’ll sort us out, I reckon. But he’ll want money or the like in things he can sell. He gets a good price.’
    ‘Let’s go, then,’ said Creecher.
    ‘What, now?’
    But Creecher was already through the window and Billy felt compelled to follow.
    ‘How shall we get the money we need,’ said Creecher, when they were in the alley, ‘to pay for the clothes?’
    ‘Well,’ said Billy. ‘As it happens, I think that might be the easy part.’
    He grinned. For once it was going to be him taking the lead. Billy had spent days doing whatever Creecher told him to do – now he was going to get some fun out of this terrifying giant, on his terms.
    He walked to the end of the alleyway and peered round the corner. It opened on to a street where he knew there was a gambling house frequented by the Mayfair set when they wanted to slum it a little. Two dandies were strolling towards him at that very moment, cravats wound round their necks, corsets pinching their waists. Billy looked back at Creecher, put his finger to his lips and then stepped out in front of them.
    ‘Give us your money,’ he said matter-of-factly.
    The two men had been startled by Billy’s sudden appearance, but seeing that he was alone and unarmed they turned to one another and laughed uproariously. Billy smiled.
    ‘I asked nicely, gentlemen,’ he said. ‘Now give us your cash. I ain’t got all night.’
    ‘I really would rather not,’ said the taller of the two, ‘if it’s all the same to you.’
    ‘Yes,’ said the other. ‘If it’s all the same to you.’
    ‘And now I think I’m going to thrash you, boy.’
    The dandy stepped forward, bringing his cane up over his shoulder. He was about to swing it down in an arc that would have ended in the splitting of Billy’s skull, when an arm reached out and grabbed it, snatching it and pulling the man with it into the alley. His friend opened his mouth to shout, but he, too, was grabbed and pulled off the street.
    Billy smiled to himself and followed them into the shadows. The two men were staring, open-mouthed and wide-eyed,