‘OK, everyone,’ Takis beamed round. ‘Nice to see the generations!’ He patted Naomi on the head, and to Willow’s surprise she didn’t cry. He twisted his rubbery features into a Mr Bean smile which reduced the baby to such an attack of giggles that she got hiccups. ‘What will you have to drink?’

‘An ouzo for me,’ volunteered Nikos, turning to Penny to see what she wanted.

‘Me too,’ instantly seconded Marigold, favouring Nikos with such a seductive smile that he glanced behind him to see who it was directed at.

‘White wine for me, Takis,’ Penny requested, trying not to laugh at Marigold’s less than subtle technique.

‘And me,’ Dora nodded. ‘What are you having, Karl?’

This time it was Moira’s turn to smile. To her, he was still Professor Brinkley. ‘A Mythos, please. They have so much of archaeological interest here. I’m sure they could get the upmarket tour operators interested.’

‘Bloody hell, I can just see it,’ Marigold shook her head. ‘All those Guardian readers with their guidebooks and their crochet. Give me Club 18-30 anytime.’

‘Aren’t you a bit old for that, Marigold?’ Nell asked naughtily.

Takis had come back with their drinks and the menu.

‘What fresh fish have you got?’ Nikos asked.

‘Calamari! Straight from the sea today. Caught by my nephew, Christos. He isn’t much good at fishing, but he always catches the squid!’

‘Not for me, thanks.’ Moira shuddered. ‘I don’t think I’m ever going to eat anything with tentacles again.’

‘My God, no!’ Nell sympathized. ‘But just think – if it weren’t for your food poisoning, we’d never have discovered Kyri.’

‘And how long are you planning to stay?’ Marigold asked, her eyes fixed on Penny. ‘I mean, you’ll have to get back to real life soon, surely?’

For no apparent reason Dora, Nell, Penny and Moira all began to fall about with laughter. They didn’t need Marigold to ask them something they were already asking themselves.

‘What on earth are you laughing at, you mad bitches?’ Marigold demanded.

‘It’s just that for some reason,’ Nell eventually explained through her giggles, ‘Kyri has turned out to be more fun than Sevenoaks!’

‘Is there any development over the status of the olive grove?’ Professor Brinkley asked Nikos, once sanity returned and they had ordered their food.

‘I have approached the Department of Cultural Antiquities many times,’ Nikos sighed. ‘But they tell me it is becoming so common for criminals to find artefacts and sell them that there is little they can do.’

‘So, is that it for the lost Venus?’ the Professor enquired.

Dora listened intently.

‘Maybe,’ Nikos looked momentarily defeated. ‘For the moment, at least. I have no powers to take it further without the Department.’

A loud crash made them turn. Ariadne had dropped the tray of their drinks she was carrying. ‘You cannot abandon her!’ she accused, her face as pale as any marble statue.