he surprise was great, but I doubt if I betrayed the fact to the unsuspicious eye of the patient lass who attended me.
"I wish to see one of your captains," I explained. "I will gladly await his convenience."
"Captain Smith will be at liberty soon," she answered, going back to her work.
I was thus left to study the face of the man whom at that very moment I was bent upon connecting with a great crime.
I had not seen him since that touching scene at the inquest; and I found him looking both older and sadder. Perhaps his health was broken; perhaps there were other and deeper reasons for the great change I saw in him.
I had instinctively withdrawn a few steps when the lass left me and stood in as inconspicuous a position as possible, with my face turned from the light. But I had not retreated far enough to lose a word of the conversation going on so near me.
They were discussing an approaching meeting; Leighton with deep interest, the Captain with an embarrassment not often seen in one of his calling. Listening, I heard these words.
"It will be a full one, won't it?"
This from Leighton.
"It usually is on a day like this," was the hesitating reply.