He promptly did so, with, as far as could be seen, no word of excuse to his feminine companions.

In a moment two young men strolled up to their table and sat down.
"Your friend asked us to come over here and take his place," explained one nonchalantly.

"You don't object, ladies ?" The girls received them amiably.

Apparently no one thought of such a formality as names or introductions.

The original host stayed away for the rest of the evening, but the four new acquaintances seemed to get along quite satisfactorily without him.
A young married woman from uptown came in with her husband and two other men.