Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

Raisins and Almonds 1 1
of his own. And you have found Mrs. Katz. Excellent work, Dot
dear. Expect a bonus. Are you going out?’
‘Me and the girls are going to the pictures. Hugh’s taking
us.’ Dot blushed, though a more blameless way of meeting one’s
beloved than by taking two adolescents to see the new Douglas
Fairbanks was hard to imagine, Phryne thought. ‘I hope you
have a lovely time. Don’t wait up for me,’ said Phryne, and went
out in a wave of Jicky.
999
Simon was waiting in the parlour. Phryne descended the stairs,
making her entrance, and he was gratifyingly struck by her
elegance.
‘Where are you taking me?’ he asked, wonderingly, a question
which could mean many things. Phryne chose the practical
answer.
‘To the Society for dinner and then to Kadimah, where I
expect to hear many interesting things from all your friends.
Come along,’ she extended a hand, and he went willingly.
‘I didn’t know there was anything really good at this end of
town,’ he remarked, as Phryne stopped the car in Bourke Street,
almost to the Treasury.
‘Once,’ Phryne said, ‘there was a man who was just stopping
off on his way from Italy to his home in the Argentine, but as
has happened to a lot of people, he liked it here so he stayed. He
set up a meeting place for Italians in Little Bourke Street. He
makes real coffee,’ said Phryne, a confirmed caffeine addict. ‘He
was successful so he moved to a bigger place. It’s just a simple
restaurant but I expect that he will flourish. You’ll like him.
His name’s Guiseppe Codognotto and he’s a superb chef. Oh, I
hadn’t thought. Can you eat his food?’
‘Yes, of course,’ replied Simon, a little nettled. ‘But I will
have my coffee black.’
‘The only way,’ agreed Phryne, and opened the door.
The Society was bright and warm and they went in on a
gust of air scented with basil. Robby the waiter, fair haired and