the table and unfolded her napkin.

She seemed to be no stranger there, for, on her entrance, the younger
and more active waiter had at once sprung up with officious haste, and
almost before she was ready, the little table was newly spread and
set, and the dinner of the day before her. She spoke to the man in a
friendly way as she took her seat, and he replied with a pleased and
smiling respect.

Then she began to eat, deliberately, and with an overemphasised
nicety. As she carried her soup-spoon to her lips, Maurice Guest felt
that she was observing him; and throughout the meal, of which she ate
but little, he was aware of a peculiarly straight and penetrating
gaze. It ended by disconcerting him. Beckoning the waiter, he went
through the business of paying his bill, and this done, was about to
push back his chair and rise to his feet, when the man, in gathering
up the money, addressed what seemed to be a question to him. Fearful
lest he had made a mistake in the strange coinage, Maurice looked up
apprehensively. The waiter repeated his words, but the slight
nervousness that gained on the young man made him incapable of
separating the syllables, which were indistinguishably blurred. He
coloured, stuttered, and felt mortally uncomfortable, as, for the
third time, the waiter repeated his remark, with the utmost slowness.

At this point, the girl at the adjacent table put down her knife and
fork, and leaned slightly forward.

"Excuse me," she said, and smiled. "The waiter only said he thought
you must be a stranger here: DER HERR IST GEWISS FREMD IN LEIPZIG?"
Her rather prominent teeth were visible as she spoke.