He was tall, good-looking, and smartly-dressed in a grey lounge-suit, carrying his plush Tyrolese hat in his hand.
On seeing me he drew back, and cast a quick, inquisitive glance at Lola.
"This is M'sieur Vidal," the girl exclaimed in her pretty broken English, introducing us. "My very good friend of whom I spoke yesterday—M'sieur Edouard Craig."
We bowed to each other, and I thought I saw upon his face a look of annoyance. He had evidently believed Lola to be alone.
In an instant, however, the shadow fled from the young man's face, and he exclaimed with frankness—
"I'm extremely pleased to know you, sir, more especially after what Lola has told me concerning you."
"What has she told you?" I asked, with a smile. "Nothing very terrible, I hope?"
For a second he did not reply. Then, looking over at her as she stood on the opposite side of the table, he replied—
"Well, she has told me of your long friendship and—and—may I be permitted to tell Mr. Vidal, Lola?" he suddenly asked, turning to her.