‘I am glad you have told me. I shall be prepared for the worst.—We shall meet again at the table-d’hôte; meanwhile, I’ll go and look after the postman.’
‘Should there be a letter, you will let me know as soon as possible?’
‘Never fear.’
With a smile and a nod, she left him, and speeding across the lawn, entered the hotel by a French-window, one of a number which stood wide open this sunny afternoon.
Archie gazed after her admiringly till she was out of sight. Then he buried his hands in his pockets and turned and sauntered slowly up towards the main entrance to the hotel.
‘Ah! here’s Ridsdale coming this way,’ exclaimed Mr Golightly. ‘Wonder whether he’ll know me? What larks!’
But Mr Ridsdale was thinking his own thoughts, and he passed Mr Golightly, who was apparently deep in the perusal of his sober-looking volume, as though there was no such person in existence. But he had not got more than a few yards beyond the tree when he heard himself called.
‘Archie, dear!’ cried some one softly. If it were not a feminine voice that spoke, it was a very good imitation of one.
Mr Ridsdale started, and turned. Beyond two or three loungers round the door of the hotel, some distance away, not a creature was visible save the clerical-looking young man seated under the tree and intent on his book.
Archie’s eyes struck fire and his face flamed suddenly. He advanced three or four paces. ‘Did you address that remark to me, sir?’ he sternly demanded.