"William W Johnstone - Ashes 32 - Destiny in the Ashes (txt)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

together if that suits you."

"That's fine."

"We'll look at your menus while you get the tables ready," Coop said,
licking his lips.

Marinaro raised his eyebrows. "Oh, we have no menus. Our selections of
late have been . . . rather limited due to the shortage of food in the
city."

"Oh?" Harley said.

"Yes. But tonight, we are serving spaghetti and meat sauce, with garlic
bread and salad."

Harley looked around at the team, all of whom nodded their agreement. :

"That'll be all right," Harley said. "Do you have any wine to go with
that?" he asked the owner as the man pushed chairs and tables together
in the center of the room.

Marinaro gave another shrug. "Only a rather pedantic Chi-anti, I'm afraid."

"Bring us three bottles of that and some water, please," Harley asked.

"Aren't you going to ask how much the meals will cost?" Marinaro asked,
a worried look on his face.

Harley stared at him for a moment, then pulled a wallet from his pocket
and opened it to show the man a thick bundle of bills inside.

"I'm sure you'll be reasonable," he said.

Marinaro's eyes widened at the sight of so much money; then he grinned
widely. "Certainly, sir," he said, and hustled off toward the kitchen.

38

***

As they ate their salads, which consisted of rather anemic and wilted
iceberg lettuce with slices of almost spoiled tomatoes and some small
pieces of cucumber, Jersey turned to Harley.

"Do you think it wise to show him how much money we have?"

Harley leaned across the table and whispered. "Yes. I want him to know
we are rich. It may help loosen his tongue when I ask him some questions
about the area."