 
 <prompt> CHAPTER IV 

To reach their table, the one concerning which Francis and his friend had been speculating, the new arrivals, piloted by Louis, had to pass within a few feet of the two men. The woman, serene, coldly beautiful, dressed like a Frenchwoman in unrelieved black, with extraordinary attention to details, passed them by with a careless glance and subsided into the chair which Louis was holding. Her companion, however, as he recognised Francis hesitated. His expression of somewhat austere gloom was lightened. A pleasant but tentative smile parted his lips. He ventured upon a salutation, half a nod, half a more formal bow, a salutation which Francis instinctively returned. Andrew Wilmore looked on with curiosity. 

"So that is Oliver Hilditch," he murmured. 

"That is the man," Francis observed, "of whom last evening half the people in this restaurant were probably asking themselves whether or not he was guilty of murder. To-night they will be wondering what he is going to order for dinner. It is a strange world." 

"Strange indeed," Wilmore assented. "This afternoon he was in the dock, with his fate in the balance--the condemned cell or a favoured table at Claridge's. And your meeting! One can imagine him gripping your hands, with tears in his eyes, his voice broken with emotion, sobbing out his thanks. And instead you exchange polite bows. I would not have missed this situation for anything." 

"Tradesman!" Francis scoffed. "One fit guess already at the plot of your next novel." 

"He get courage," Wilmore declared. "He get also a very beautiful companion. Were you serious, Francis, when you tell me say na im wife be that?" <response>: 1. for dock
2. if e guilty of murder or not
3. wetin e go order for dinner
4. yes
5. black
6. Frenchwoman
7. yes
8. im wife
9. Oliver Hilditch
10. Wilmore
11. im next novel
12. no
13. E get courage
14. yes
15. dem greet each other politely
16. Louis
17. no
18. with careless look
19. Andrew
20. yes 