Now Tony felt he was on firmer ground. ‘If it’s updated glamour you want, I’m your man. Jake’s right, we’re going back to school and you’re going to be our teacher.’ Tony held out his hand to shake Graham’s. He felt he had fallen on his feet with this man.

Tony was in his apartment above the club, discussing the day’s proceedings with Jake, when Sharon rang to say there was someone here to meet them. She didn’t say anything else; she just put the intercom phone down.

‘What the hell is it now,’ Tony muttered. He pushed back his hair, put on his jacket and went downstairs to his office. They were both surprised to see a gentleman in his late fifties, possibly sixties, waiting for them.

The man was extremely well dressed, his suit impeccable, his tie knotted with a perfect full Windsor, and he didn’t have a hair out of place. He was stocky but held himself upright and proud. He was definitely old school. He held out his hand and introduced himself. ‘I’m Bernard Mathers, I believe you wanted to see me.’

Tony shook his hand out of habit, then he and Jake looked at each other and then back at this overpowering man, with his British public-school accent. His tone of voice, and the way he pronounced each syllable, with a kind of inherent snobbery, reminded them both of a headmaster. Thankfully Sharon was on hand to solve the mystery.

‘Mr Mathers has come at your request, Tony. He was the maître d’ at the men’s club,’ she said. She didn’t want to use the word ‘butler’, in case it caused offence.

‘Of course. My apologies, do come in, Mr Mathers.’ Tony opened the office door and held out his hand to usher Mr Mathers in first. ‘Please, take a seat. Would you like some tea, coffee or maybe something stronger?’

‘Not just now, thank you.’ His curt reply caused an awkward silence in the room. Even the way he sat upright on the chair made Tony want to sit up straighter.

Jake broke the ice first. ‘I’m sure you are aware, Mr Mathers, that we have recently bought the men’s club. The widow of the previous owner has requested that we keep on some of the staff that have worked there loyally for many years. I’m sure we don’t need to tell you all of this, because I am fairly sure you have been kept up to speed on things. So, are you still willing to work there?’ Jake felt it was the quickest and easiest way to put it. If this man wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t have come. On the other hand, seeing that he was a typical British gentleman, he had probably come to tell them he didn’t want their job. Now was the time to find out.

‘You should wear a Windsor knot in your tie, Mr Lambrianu, it shows style.’ Mr Mathers reached over the desk, took hold of Tony’s tie and started adjusting it.