waiter's leading them to it. In an instant you'll have a better view
of them than I shall. Now ... but don't look up yet."

From under her lashes Annesley saw--in the way women do see without
seeming to use their eyes--two men conducted to a table directly in front
of her. As she sat on her host's right, at the end of the table, not
opposite to him, this gave her the advantage--or disadvantage--of
facing the newcomers fully, while Mr. Smith, who had faced them as they
entered, would have his profile turned toward their table.

The pair seated themselves in the same way that Annesley and her
companion were placed, one at the right hand of the other. This caused
the first man to face the girl fully and gave her the second in profile.
One table only intervened between Mr. Smith's and that selected by the
late arrivals, and the latter had hardly sat down when the party of four
at the intermediate table rose to go.

Under cover of their departure, bowing of waiters and readjustment of
ladies' sable or ermine stoles, Annesley ventured a lightning glance at
the men. She saw that both were black-haired and black-bearded, with dark
skins and long noses. There was a slight suggestion of resemblance
between them. They might be brothers. They were in evening dress, but
did not look, Annesley thought, like gentlemen.

Mr. Smith was eating _blennes au caviar_ apparently with enjoyment. He
called a waiter and told him to put more whipped cream on the caviare as
yet untouched in the middle of Annesley's pancake.

"That's better, I think," he said, genially. And as the waiter went away,
"What are they doing now?"