AsIseemedtobetheonlycustomeratthathour，Iselectedatablebythewindowfordistraction。Tomhadtakenmyorder；theotherwaiters，includingTournelli，wereabsent，withtheexceptionofasolitaryGerman，who，intheinterludeofperfunctorytriflingwiththecasters，gazedatmewiththatabstractedirresponsibilitywhichonewaiterassumestowardsanother’scustomer。Eventheproprietorhaddesertedhisdeskatthecounter。ItseemedtobeafavorableopportunitytogetsomeinformationfromTom。
Butheanticipatedme。Whenhehaddealtacertainnumberofdishesaroundme，asiftheywerecardsandhewastellingmyfortune，heleanedoverthetableandsaid，withinterrogatingconfidence：——
\"IreckonyoucallthatMr。Mannersofyoursagoodlawyer？\"
WewereveryloyaltoeachotherintheClub，andIrepliedwithyouthfulenthusiasmthathewasconsideredoneofthemostpromisingatthebar。And，rememberingTournelli，Iaddedconfidentlythatwhoeverengagedhimtolookaftertheirpropertyinterestshadsecuredatreasure。
\"Butishegoodincriminalcases——beforeapolicecourt，forinstance？\"continuedTom。