I found out my table, sent for some more flowers, and ordered the wine.
Then I descended to the hall just in time to meet my guest.
She wore nothing over her evening dress save a lace scarf, which she untwisted as we ascended the stairs. For some reason I fancied that she was not very well pleased with me. Her greeting was certainly cool.
"Is this your favorite restaurant?" I asked, as the head-waiter ushered us to our table.
"I have no favorite restaurant," she answered; "only to-night I felt in the humor for French cooking—and French service."
I fancied that there was some meaning in the latter part of her sentence; but at that time I did not understand. I had ordered the dinner carefully; and I was glad to see that, although she ate sparingly, she showed appreciation. Wine she scarcely touched.
"So you have been particularly engaged to-day," was almost her first remark.
"I was forced to go to Lord's," I reminded her. "A cricket match lasts three days."
"Three whole days!" she exclaimed, raising her eyebrows.
"Certainly! unless it is over before," I replied.
"And you mean to say that you are a prisoner there all that time—that you could not leave if you chose to?"