title: Smoking in Bed: Conversations with Bruce Robinson
author:  Alistair Owen 
description: Furious and lyrical. -- <i>THE SUNDAY TIMES</i><br /><br />Its alive with Robinsons voice His conversation is a work of art. -- <i>THE GUARDIAN</i>
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  * * *
  
  
    
    
  Topham's Chance
  
  
    
    
  Chapter I  
    
  Chapter II  
    
  Chapter III  
    
  Chapter IV
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com
  
  
  * * *
  
  # Topham's Chance
  
  
  ### George Gissing
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  * Chapter I
  
  
  * Chapter II
  
  
  * Chapter III
  
  
  * Chapter IV
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Chapter I
  
  
  On a slimmer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
  
  
  One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the
  
  
  newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers
  
  
  before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises. They
  
  
  were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was
  
  
  well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked
  
  
  altogether like a man who neglected himself. For half an hour they had
  
  
  not spoken.
  
  
  Of a sudden the man in the chair jumped up.
  
  
  'Well, I have to go into to