ter, who spoke with
a full French flavor. The table chosen for them stood before a long
divan whereon they sat side by side and faced the room filled to
overflowing with small groups of diners who seemed very much at home
there and very much pleased with life and with one another. Many of
them called greetings to Cliff Lowell, who responded with his bored
smile, like a matinee idol who feels he needs a vacation.

Girls with improbable complexions and sophisticated eyes sent Johnny
curious glances and provocative smiles when their companions were not
looking. "Movie queens," Cliff Lowell explained in an undertone,
"coming and going. Some of them dreaming of coronation, others about
ready for the axe. It has taken them just about ten seconds to
register interest in the strange male person who must be Somebody or he
would not be here in high boots and flannel shirt."

Johnny flushed. "You saw the clothes I had on, and you brought me
here," he retorted. "The joke's on you."

"No less than seven have given me the high sign to bring you over and
introduce you," Cliff Lowell went on imperturbably. "They are
frantically searching their memories at the present moment, trying to
place you. They are positive that you are some star whom they have not
met, and they are trying to remember what picture they ought to mention
when the introduction has been successfully accomplished." He paused
long enough to murmur an order to a hovering waiter whose English was
almost unintelligible to Johnny because of its French.

"Should the crisis have to be met suddenly, do you wish to dodge the
publicity that would follow if I told just who you are? There are
certain incidents which you do not care to have recalled. I made sure
of that at the hotel, you remember."

"I don't want to know anybody. I came here to eat. If I can't do that
without being introduced to a lot of folks, I'll beat it and find some
lunch counter that will feed me without trying to make a boob outa me.
I ain't dressed to meet company, anyway. And I don't want anything
from this bunch except to be left alone."

"Fair enough," Cliff sighed contentedly and leaned back at his ease.
"You're wiser than you realize. Knowing this bunch wouldn't get you
anywhere, except at the bottom of your pile, maybe. What you want is
to steer clear of everything that will interfere with what you're
after. Here come the eats--you'll know presently why I brought you
here."