Mr. Quentin moved forward to accost the lady, his large person having hitherto entirely concealed his friend, and as he moved, Mrs. Durand's eyes fell upon Gilbert Lisle. She opened them very wide, shut them, and opened them once more, and said in a slow, staccato voice,—
"I believe I am not dreaming, and that I see Mr. Lisle. Mr. Lisle," holding out a plump and eager hand, "what on earth brings you here?"
Precisely what every one wanted to know.
Mrs. Durand had a habit of laying great stress on some of her words, and she uttered the word earth with extraordinary emphasis.
Her acquaintance, upon whom all eyes were now riveted, smiled, shook hands, muttered incoherently, and contrived, by some skilful manœuvre, to draw the lady from the centre of the crowd.
"I never was so amazed in my life!" she reiterated. "What put it into your head to come here, of all places?"
"Oh, I wanted to see something out of the common, and to enlarge my ideas."
"Indeed, I did not know that they required extension! One could understand our being here—we are sent, like the convicts; but outsiders—and, of all people, you!"
"There is first-class fishing to be had, and boating, and all that sort of thing; and the scenery is perfect," he answered.
"Granted—and pray how long have you been at Port Blair?"