Page:Claire Ambler (1928).djvu/207

 vecchio; and when it went on again they heard American voices in the next compartment—voices of a mother and her son, it became evident. A little later, a youth of twenty-four or thereabouts appeared in the corridor, lounging, enjoying a cigarette and looking out of the window opposite the Amblers' open door. He was tall, of an athlete's figure, comely of face, well-advised in dress, and his air was that of a carefree and generally amused person. After a time his observation wandered, and he was aware of the girl sitting in the compartment outside of which he took his pleasure. His awareness of her, indeed, was vivid, almost fervent. He looked full ready to be cordial.

"I beg your pardon," he said. "Does my smoking annoy you?"

"Not at all," Mrs. Ambler assured him.

"Are you sure?" he asked earnestly. "Does it annoy you in the least?"

"No. It doesn't come into the compartment; it blows the other way."

"Well, I'll be glad to throw my cigarette away," he said. "I will if it annoys either of you." He looked anxiously at Claire and added: "Are you sure it doesn't annoy either of you?"