Phryne is being painted by Miss Carson for an illustration for Madame Charpentier's latest chocolate selection entitled Dark Lady.
A few months later on a dark winters night Phryne receives a parcel from Madame containing a box of the chocolates which she shares with the household. Also in the package is a plain box containing four nougats which Phryne gives to Jane and Ruth to share.
The next day at 10am Phryne receives a phone call from Madame to check the delivery arrived safely. Dot arrives and tells Phryne the girls are complaining of feeling sick and says there is something wrong with the nougats. Ruth said they tasted funny and Jane said they had better leave the last one as evidence. Phryne examines it and determines it smells of mustard. Dot sniffs it and agrees. They investigate further and realize that it is deliberate sabotage. Phryne contacts Madame Charpentier and Madame asks for her help.
A short time later Phryne arrives at Madames factory at Footscray. Madame walks Phryne through the chocolate making process so Phryne can see where the sabotage may have taken place. Phryne asks who has access to the chocolate making room and Madame tells her on she does and the room is kept locked.
Phryne then goes on to interview the staff, the two packers an attractive girl Helen and an outspoken but plain girl Janet. Janet tells Phryne that the plain box of chocolates was actually meant for her as Madame gives them a box to take home every night but hers were nougat which she doesn't like so Madame swapped them and put the nougat in Phryne's parcel.
Phryne asks Janet why someone would want to mess with her and Janet asks her if shes met the delivery boys Harry and Charlie she says the older of the two Charlie is always making rude comments at the girls but she slaps them down whereas Helen only blushes.
Phryne asks about Harry and Janet tells her he is quiet but sweet on Helen. Janet says she told him that he didn't stand a chance with Helen.
Phryne then brings in the delivery boys to talk to them. Charlie attempts to flirt with Phryne but she stops him and asks him about the girls. He tells them Helen is a looker but no go and Janet is ok she gives as good as she gets.
Phyrne then talks to Charlie who is quiet and skakey. Phryne tells him he is wasting his time with Helen she wants a confident boy and that she know he tried to punish Janet because she told him so. She tells him thankfully they have found that someone was not trying to sabotage Madame's business but he will be fired. She give him a pound note and dismisses him telling him to get some sense.
Madame rewards Phryne with two more boxes of chocolate which Phryne plans on sharing with Lin Chung when he visits that night.
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