Hillyard found himself with the leading lady on one side of him and Stella Croyle opposite, and Mario Escobar a couple of seats away.

Supper was half through when Escobar leaned suddenly forward.
"Mr.Hillyard, I have seen you before, somewhere and not in England." "That is possible." "In Spain ?" "Yes," answered Hillyard.
A certain curiosity in Escobar's voice, a certain reticence in Hillyard's, arrested the attention of those about.
"Let me see!" continued Escobar.

"It was in the Opera House at Barcelona on the first performance of Manon Lescaut." "No," replied Hillyard.
"Then--I know--it was under the palm-trees in front of the sea at Alicante one night." Hillyard nodded.
"That may well have been.

I was up and down the south coast of Spain for three years.

Eighteen months of it were spent at Alicante." He turned to his neighbour, but Escobar persisted.
"It was for your health ?" Hillyard did not answer directly.
"My lungs have always been my trouble," he said.
Hardiman bent towards Stella Croyle.
"I think our new friend has had a curious life, Stella.