One young girl was pear-shaped with enormous legs and tiny breasts encased in a tight Lurex shorts suit, her black tights sporting large ladders and holes in them. Another in Old Compton Street was arguing with a passer by who had shouted something obscene at her, her loud voice, with its disgusting language, shocking Donna to the core. As she had crawled along behind a black cab full of businessmen in suits, she had been amazed to see that the girl was only about sixteen, her face plastered in make-up and her eyes unnaturally bright. Donna’s last sight of the girl was of her giving a particularly rude sign to the man’s back and laughing uproariously as she did so. The black cab discharged its customers outside a delicatessen and Donna was pleased to be able to drive on, frightened for a moment that the girl might turn her attention to her.

As she approached Amigo’s, she could smell a delicious aroma of fresh baked bread. The smell led her into the doorway of the small restaurant, lifting her spirits with its homely associations.

A young man dressed in a dinner suit walked towards her, smiling pleasantly. ‘Can I help you, madam?’ His voice had a real Italian accent and Donna found herself smiling back at him.

‘I am here to see Mr Alan Cox. I am Mrs Georgio Brunos.’

The man looked at her long and hard before answering. ‘Mr Cox does not see people without an appointment.’

Donna swallowed heavily. ‘If you would be so kind as to tell Mr Cox I am here, I am sure he will see me. Tell him it’s Georgio Brunos’s wife, make sure you emphasise that fact.’

Without waiting for an answer she settled herself on a stool at the bar and ordered a drink. ‘Could I have a white wine and soda, please?’

The young man behind the bar looked at the maître d’ before he served her. Donna watched in the mirrors behind the bar as the man nodded his acquiescence. She glanced around the empty restaurant in distress. She felt as if she had gatecrashed an audience with the Pope.

‘While you have your drink, I’ll see if Mr Cox is available.’ The words were spoken with an air of indifference.

Donna nodded and took the proffered glass. She gulped at her drink to hide her embarrassment. Not for the first time that day, she wondered if she was indeed mad even to consider doing what Georgio had asked her.

Ricardo walked up the steep staircase that took him to Alan Cox’s office. The restaurant was quiet. Once it livened up Alan would come down for an hour and preside over it, chatting to the customers and making sure everyone was enjoying themselves.