He led the way, and just before entering the brilliantly lighted doorway, paused long enough to say in a low voice:
“No hesitation now. It would prove fatal. Walk as if you owned the place—just as every German does.”
The boys needed no instructions along this line, and they followed Lord Hastings with heads erect, swaggering a trifle.
Inside there was revelry. German officers sat about tables that lined the four walls of the room. With them, or some of them, were their wives. Apparently it was the supper hour.
At a far end of the room a string orchestra furnished music and there were four singers—two men and two women—or rather one young girl, for such Frank perceived her to be after careful inspection.
A courteous waiter met the three at the door as they entered, and with many bows ushered them to a table in a distant corner. They sat down and Lord Hastings gave the order for supper.
Now the music struck up a more lively gait and some of the German officers and their wives arose and danced in the center of the floor. Frank saw a young German lieutenant, who apparently had been drinking, approach the youthful singer. Apparently he asked her to dance, for he indicated the other whirling couples. But the girl shook her head. Whereupon the young German muttered something under his breath and took himself away.
Frank found his eyes continually straying toward the young girl; and once aware of his scrutiny, the girl’s eyes also flashed in his direction more often than was necessary. Jack noticed this, but said nothing.
But there was something else that Jack noticed as he ate. The young German who had so recently been refused by the girl, had followed the direction of her eyes and he now glared at Frank balefully. Jack smiled to himself.
But the lad’s smile soon changed to a frown.