Her arrival caused a flutter among the other occupants of the terrace, and even the Englishman glanced up.

This group had at last made some impression it would seem upon the retina of his eye, for he looked deliberately at them and realized that the two women were quite worthy of his scrutiny.
"But I hate Americans," he said to himself.

"They are such actresses, you never know where you are with them--these two, though, appear some of the best." Presently they went into the hotel, passing him very closely--and for a second his eyes met the violet ones of Sabine Howard, and he was conscious that he felt distinctly interested, much to his disgust.
But, after all, he was here for a cure and a rest, and he had always believed in women as recreations.
His solitary table was near theirs in the restaurant, and later he wrote to his friend, Michael Arranstoun, loitering at Ostende: The hotel is quite decent--and after your long sojourn in the wilds, you will have an overdose of polo and expensive ladies and baccarat.

You had much better join me here at the end of the week.
There are two pretty women who would be quite your affair.

They have the next table, and neither of them can be taking the cure.
But Mr.Arranstoun, when he received this missive, had other things to do.