Mr. Vyner shook his head at both of them, and at an offer of a glass of beer looked so undecided that the captain, after an uneasy glance at the table, which did not escape Mr. Vyner, went to the kitchen to procure some.
"I wonder," said Robert musingly, as he turned to the table, "I wonder if it would be bad manners to—"
"Yes," said Joan, promptly.
Mr. Vyner sighed and tried to peer under a corner of the towel. "I can see a saucer," he announced, excitedly.
Miss Hartley rose and pointing with a rigid fore-finger at her own chair, changed places with him.
"You want to see yourself," declared Mr. Vyner.
Miss Hartley scorned to reply.
"Let's share the guilt," continued the other. "You shut your eyes and raise the corner of the towel, and I'll do the 'peeping'."
The return of the unconscious captain with the beer rendered a reply unnecessary.
"We half thought you would be at number nine," he said as the captain poured him out a glass.