rd temptation to remain and see what would come of it got over
my better judgment. I hung about irresolute, wondering how long an
embassy of that sort would take, and whether Fyne on coming out would
consent to be communicative. I feared he would be shocked at finding me
there, would consider my conduct incorrect, conceivably treat me with
contempt. I walked off a few paces. Perhaps it would be possible to
read something on Fyne's face as he came out; and, if necessary, I could
always eclipse myself discreetly through the door of one of the bars.
The ground floor of the Eastern Hotel was an unabashed pub, with
plate-glass fronts, a display of brass rails, and divided into many
compartments each having its own entrance.

But of course all this was silly. The marriage, the love, the affairs
of Captain Anthony were none of my business. I was on the point of
moving down the street for good when my attention was attracted by a
girl approaching the hotel entrance from the west. She was dressed very
modestly in black. It was the white straw hat of a good form and
trimmed with a bunch of pale roses which had caught my eye. The whole
figure seemed familiar. Of course! Flora de Barral. She was making
for the hotel, she was going in. And Fyne was with Captain Anthony! To
meet him could not be pleasant for her. I wished to save her from the
awkwardness, and as I hesitated what to do she looked up and our eyes
happened to meet just as she was turning off the pavement into the hotel
doorway. Instinctively I extended my arm. It was enough to make her
stop. I suppose she had some faint notion that she had seen me before
somewhere. She walked slowly forward, prudent and attentive, watching
my faint smile.

"Excuse me," I said directly she had approached me near enough.
"Perhaps you would like to know that Mr Fyne is upstairs with Captain
Anthony at this moment."

She uttered a faint "Ah! Mr Fyne!" I could read in her eyes that she
had recognised me now. Her serious expression extinguished the imbecile
grin of which I was conscious. I raised my hat. She responded with a
slow inclination of the head while her luminous, mistrustful, maiden's
glance seemed to whisper, "What is this one doing here?"

"I came up to town with Fyne this morning," I said in a businesslike
tone. "I have to see a friend in East India Dock. Fyne and I parted
this moment at the door here..." The girl regarded me with darkening
eyes ...