A moment afterwards he got up and walked across to the pillar against which Colwyn's table was placed.
"Will you permit me to take a seat at your table ?" he remarked urbanely.
"I am afraid we are going to have trouble over there directly," he added, sinking his voice as he nodded in the direction of the distant alcove table.

"We may have to act promptly.

Nobody else seems to have noticed anything.

We can watch him from behind this pillar without his seeing us." Colwyn nodded in return with a quick comprehension of all the other's speech implied, and pushed a chair towards his visitor, who sat down and resumed his watch of the young man at the alcove table.

Colwyn bestowed a swift glance on his companion which took in everything.