"I wonder?" said Smith, looking thoughtful; and the girl wondered, too:
not about her future or her relatives, but what the next few minutes
would do with this strange young man, and how at such a time he could
bear to talk commonplaces.

"If you're trying to keep me from being nervous," she whispered, "it's
not a bit of use! I can't think of anything or any one except those men.
They've stopped whispering. But they're looking at you. Now--they're
getting up. They're coming toward us!"




CHAPTER IV

THE GREAT MOMENT


The men were staring so keenly at "Mr. N. Smith" that it seemed to
Annesley he must feel the stab of eyes, sharp as pin-pricks, in his back.
He had the self-control, however, not to look round, not even to change
expression. No man in the restaurant appeared more calmly at ease than
he.

The couple had accompanied their stare with eager whisperings. Then,
as if on some hasty decision, they pushed back their chairs and got up.
Taking a few steps they separated, approaching Smith on right and left.
One, therefore, stood between him and Annesley as if to prevent an
exchange of words or glances. There was something Eastern and oddly