The Main chance

Epilogue

At Park Crescent the whole team, which had assembled earlier, had rushed off home to put on evening dress. Except for Paula.

Tweed had told them he was taking them to dinner at Mungano's, the most expensive restaurant in town. Paula opened a clothes cupboard. `I've got a new outfit, protectively covered, in here. They will appreciate your gesture.' `It's what all of you deserve.' `You're sitting there like a statue looking so incredibly thoughtful. Why?' `I'm really wondering whether I got this case right.' `What? I don't understand.' `A phrase someone uttered keeps singing through my mind.' `What phrase?' she asked, perching on his desk. `You remember they were playing roulette in the library? And Marshal got furious, lifted the wheel off the table, threw it out onto the terrace.' `Yes.' `Do you recall what Warner Chance then said?' `No, I don't. What did he say?' "Winner takes all."'