A second girl, taller, older, slower, but equally smiling, was taking Pennell's cap and stick and gloves, making play with her eyes the while.

"Merci, cherie," he heard his friend say and then, in a totally different voice: "Ah! Bon jour Marie." A third girl was before them.

In her presence the other two withdrew.

She was tall, plain, shrewd of face, with reddish hair, but she smiled even as the others.

It was little more than a glance that Peter got, for she called an order (at which the first girl again disappeared down the stairs) greeted Pennell, replied to his question that there were two places, and was out of sight again in the room, seemingly all at once.