“I don’t blame them for going,” Melina said quickly.
“Neither did anybody else,” Bing said. “But it was not generosity that made him play host. It was something quite different.”
“What was it?” Melina asked, then sat up suddenly, surprised by the expression on Bing’s face.
She could see that he was listening, tense and still, with his ears strained. She listened, too, but could hear nothing.
Then soundlessly he rose to his feet, walked to the door and jerked it open. The waiter was standing outside very near to the door. If he was surprised he did not show it.
“What do you want?” Bing asked sharply.
“If the gentleman has finished with the breakfast, I will take away the tray,” the waiter said submissively.
“Yes, we have finished,” Bing replied abruptly.
Melina rose to her feet so a
