He indicated the direction of the restaurant. I made my way through to it with some trepidation, pausing to straighten my hat and blot my face when I came to a gilt-framed mirror in the corridor. The restaurant was breathtakingly opulent, with light pouring in from high windows, reflecting from mirrors and sparkling from chandeliers. The white-clothed tables had upholstered curved seats around them and were separated by tall potted palms. At this hour most of the booths were empty with a low buzz of conversation coming from a few tables. The maître d’ pounced on me before I had a chance to look around.

“You require a table, madame?”

“I’m looking for friends. Monsieur and Madame Sloane and their party?”

“This way, madame. Will you be joining them?”

Oh, Lord. I hadn’t wanted a formal presentation. “I can find them myself. No problem,” I said.

“It is no trouble, madame.” He strode out ahead of me to a table in the far corner. Seated at it were a large florid man, his bad-tempered looking wife, a pink and chubby younger man, a similarly chubby young woman, and amid them, like the peacock in the henhouse, was Ellie. She was smiling shyly at something they had said to her.

They looked up as we approached. “A visitor for you, monsieur,” the maître d’ said.

They stared up at me, except for Ellie who was blushing bright pink.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, Mr. Sloane,” I said. “But I am a friend of Miss Ellie’s and I wonder if you could spare her for a moment.”

“We’re just about to eat, young lady,” he said. “If you’re a friend of my son’s fiancée you’re welcome to join us.” He turned to look at Ellie.

“Not really a friend,” Ellie said, waving a hand dismissively. “Just an acquaintance, and I’m sure I wouldn’t want to spoil my first meal in Paris with my new family for a spot of female chitchat.”

“It’s really rather important,” I said. “I was just speaking with the housekeeper, Claudette, and it seems that you forgot certain items…” I gave her what I hoped was a meaningful stare.

Ellie’s face was now bright red. She licked her lips nervously. “Perhaps I’d better…” she began. “If you could possibly excuse me for a moment.”

“Really, Ellie, I don’t see what can be so dashed important that you have to interrupt a pleasant meal,” Peter said. “Especially for a near stranger.”

“I wouldn’t dream of interrupting a family reunion but this matter can’t wait,” I said. “If I can just have Ellie to myself for a few minutes, I’ll be gone. I have friends waiting for me elsewhere.”