Seated as he was he could not without turning see the faces of the two at the other table, nor watch the girl when she waited on them.

But the suspicion of a smile which hovered on the lips of the young man who sat opposite him--whom he could see--kept him on his guard.

Was a trick in preparation?
Were they about to make him pay his footing?
No, for they had no notice of his coming.
They could not have laid the mine.

Then why that smile?
And why this silence?
On a sudden he caught the sound of a movement behind him, the swirl of a petticoat, and the clang of a pewter plate as it fell noisily to the floor.

His companion looked up swiftly, the smile on his face broadening to a snigger.