In a few minutes the clean-shaven man at the next table settled his bill and made preparations for departure. The girl at the same time drew on her gloves, keeping her eyes immovably upon her neighbour's back. As the man rose to depart, and passed the table at which the girl had been sitting, the girl was looking into the mirror upon the wall, and patting her hair. Then she turned and followed the man out of the restaurant, while a pair at an adjacent table remarked to one another that it was a rather curious coincidence for a man and woman to enter and leave at the same moment when they had no apparent connection.
But what happened outside was even more curious.
The man halted for a moment upon the steps at the entrance. The porter, who was in conversation with a policeman, turned, whistle in hand.
"Hansom, sir?" he asked.
"Yes," said the clean-shaven man.
The porter was raising his whistle to his lips when he noticed the girl behind.
"Do you wish for a cab, madam?" he asked, and blew upon his whistle.
As he turned again for an answer, he plainly saw the girl, who was standing close behind the clean-shaven man, slip her hand under his coat, and snatch from his hip pocket something which she quickly transferred to her own.
"Well, I'm——" began the clean-shaven man, swinging round and feeling in his pocket.
"Have you missed anything, sir?" said the porter, standing full in front of the girl to bar her exit.