Louise and Penny led him down the street to the basement entrance. Music could be heard from within, but blinds covered all the windows.
“It must be a cafe,” commented Jerry. He turned toward Penny and stared. “Say, what’s the matter with your face?”
“My face?”
“You look as if you’re coming down with the black measles!”
“Oh, a taxi splashed me with mud,” Penny laughed, sponging at her cheeks with a handkerchief. “How do I look now?”
“Better. Let’s go.”
Taking the girls each by an elbow, Jerry guided them down the stone steps. Confronted with a curving door, he boldly thrust it open.
“Now act as if you belonged here,” he warned the girls.
The trio found themselves in a carpeted, luxuriously furnished foyer. From a large dining room nearby came laughter and music.
As the outside door closed behind the young people, a bell tinkled to announce their arrival. Almost at once a head waiter appeared in the archway to the left. He was tall and dark, with a noticeable scar across one cheek. His shrewd eyes scrutinized them, but he bowed politely enough.