He went stolidly through his dinner and special coffee without making his presence known, and when at last he had finished, was careful not to be seen going towards the sanctum of Madame Lamotte.

They were, as he entered, having supper--such a much nicer-looking supper than the dinner he had eaten that he felt a kind of grief--and they greeted him with a surprise so seemingly genuine that he thought with sudden suspicion: 'I believe they knew I was here all the time.' He gave Annette a look furtive and searching.

So pretty, seemingly so candid; could she be angling for him?
He turned to Madame Lamotte and said: "I've been dining here." Really! If she had only known! There were dishes she could have recommended; what a pity! Soames was confirmed in his suspicion.

'I must look out what I'm doing!' he thought sharply.
"Another little cup of very special coffee, monsieur; a liqueur, Grand Marnier ?" and Madame Lamotte rose to order these delicacies.
Alone with Annette Soames said, "Well, Annette ?" with a defensive little smile about his lips.
The girl blushed.

This, which last Sunday would have set his nerves tingling, now gave him much the same feeling a man has when a dog that he owns wriggles and looks at him.