“Why, yes,” stammered Penny, trying to collect her wits. “We were looking for the public telephones.”
“This way please. You will find them in the foyer. Just follow me.”
Penny and Louise had no choice but to obey. They wondered if the head waiter knew how much they had seen. His expressionless face gave them no clue.
“We were waiting for our friend,” Louise remarked to cover her embarrassment.
“The young man who escorted you here?”
“Yes,” nodded Louise. “He went to telephone and we haven’t seen him since.”
The waiter had reached the top of the stairs. He turned and looked directly at the girls as he said: “The young man left here some minutes ago.”
“He left!” Penny exclaimed incredulously. “But the bill wasn’t paid.”
“Oh, yes, the young gentleman took care of it.”
“Why, Jerry didn’t have enough money,” Penny protested, unable to grasp the situation. “You’re sure he left the cafe?”