Bland, it transpired, had tired of waiting for Johnny.  He was nowhere to be seen, and with a parting salute from the white-gloved doorman they set out briskly for the regular place Cliff Lowell had chosen to honor with his patronage.  The regular place was such a very regular place that it had disdained blatant electric signs and portents of its presence.  Cliff led Johnny up a flight of narrow stairs and turned sharply to the left through a subdued kind of vestibule that gave no inkling of what lay beyond, except that a chipper young hat boy took their headgear and the cane and gloves before they went on.

Johnny Jewel, desert product that he was, nearly stampeded before Cliff had safely seated him, with the help of the head waiter, who spoke with a full French flavor.  The table chosen for them stood before a long divan whereon they sat side by side and faced the room filled to overflowing with small groups of diners who seemed very much at home there and very much pleased with life and with one another.  Many of them called greetings to Cliff Lowell, who responded with his bored smile, like a matinee idol who feels he needs a vacation.

Girls with improbable complexions and sophisticated eyes sent Johnny curious glances and provocative smiles when their companions were not looking.  “Movie queens,” Cliff Lowell explained in an undertone, “coming and going.  Some of them dreaming of coronation, others about ready for the axe.  It has taken them just about ten seconds to register interest in the strange male person who must be Somebody or he would not be here in high boots and flannel shirt.”

Johnny flushed.  “You saw the clothes I had on, and you brought me here,” he retorted.  “The joke’s on you.”

“No less than seven have given me the high sign to bring you over and introduce you,” Cliff Lowell went on imperturbably.  “They are frantically searching their memories at the present moment, trying to place you.  They are positive that you are some star whom they have not met, and they are trying to remember what picture they ought to mention when the introduction has been successfully accomplished.”  He paused long enough to murmur an order to a hovering waiter whose English was almost unintelligible to Johnny because of its French.

“Should the crisis have to be met suddenly, do you wish to dodge the publicity that would follow if I told just who you are?  There are certain incidents which you do not care to have recalled.  I made sure of that at the hotel, you remember.”

“I don’t want to know anybody.  I came here to eat.  If I can’t do that without being introduced to a lot of folks, I’ll beat it and find some lunch counter that will feed me without trying to make a boob outa me.  I ain’t dressed to meet company, anyway.  And I don’t want anything from this bunch except to be left alone.”

“Fair enough,” Cliff sighed contentedly and leaned back at his ease.  “You’re wiser than you realize.  Knowing this bunch wouldn’t get you anywhere, except at the bottom of your pile, maybe.  What you want is to steer clear of everything that will interfere with what you’re after.  Here come the eats—­you’ll know presently why I brought you here.”