Penguin Lost
“Bim was standing by a palm in the foyer, smoking a thin cigar which, seeing Viktor, he stubbed out against the palm, and replaced in a wooden case.
“This way,” he said, leading the way to a remote table bearing “Reserved” and “No Smoking” notices. “And best stick that in the cloakroom,” he added, as Viktor went to drape his jacket over the chair. “Eats on the way. What are you drinking?”
“Cognac, please.”
An elderly waiter appeared instantly to take their order. Bim re-lit his cigar.
“Is the ba...nker coming?”
“Not so fast. Greetings, by the way, from Andrey Pavlovich. You’re to look him up when you get back.”
“How is he?”
“Fine, and free again,” came the reply in a stream of cigar smoke.
“He got arrested, then?”
“Heavens no! Free because the Deputy he was aide to, died enjoying a call-girl the day after the election.”
Not knowing what to make of this change of fortune, Viktor looked blank. Bim smiled, and at that moment his aniseed vodka and Viktor’s cognac arrived.MoreLess
“This way,” he said, leading the way to a remote table bearing “Reserved” and “No Smoking” notices. “And best stick that in the cloakroom,” he added, as Viktor went to drape his jacket over the chair. “Eats on the way. What are you drinking?”
“Cognac, please.”
An elderly waiter appeared instantly to take their order. Bim re-lit his cigar.
“Is the ba...nker coming?”
“Not so fast. Greetings, by the way, from Andrey Pavlovich. You’re to look him up when you get back.”
“How is he?”
“Fine, and free again,” came the reply in a stream of cigar smoke.
“He got arrested, then?”
“Heavens no! Free because the Deputy he was aide to, died enjoying a call-girl the day after the election.”
Not knowing what to make of this change of fortune, Viktor looked blank. Bim smiled, and at that moment his aniseed vodka and Viktor’s cognac arrived.MoreLess
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