Yet his determination to seek Miss Vard at the first moment and advise her to be cautious did not waver. He knew, from the printed announcements of the company, that the first-cabin dinner was not a table-d'hôte served at a fixed hour, as in the second-cabin, but an á la carte meal, served from six to nine, as at a fashionable restaurant; so he loitered restlessly about for half an hour after he left the table; then, deciding that he had waited long enough, he approached the ladder which led to the first-class promenade. But a uniformed figure which stood at the foot of the ladder stopped him.
"Beg pardon, sir," it said, "are you first-class?"
"No; I am second."
"Did you wish to see the purser or some officer of the ship?"
"No; I wished to see one of the passengers."
"In that case, I fear I cannot let you pass, sir. It is against the rules."
"Oh, is it?" said Dan, all his suspicions revived with double force, and he bit his lip in perplexity.
"I am sorry, sir; but I am here to enforce the rules."
"Oh, I understand," said Dan.
"You might get your stateroom steward to take a message," the man suggested.