How did the restaurant term "Covers" Originate?

Question

Where exactly did the restaurant term "COVERS" originate? For example, a restaurant might have had 20 covers for the night. In other words, they had 20 paying customers for the night. But, where exactly did the term COVERS come from?

Answer 1

This is only a guess, but it might have to do with the times of prohibition and money laundering.

Covers are the paying customers who "cover" the illegal actions going on in other parts of the business so when the police come it, the place looks like a legitimite business.