"It is Jean, it is Jean!" Patsey cried. "He has made me out."
It was well that Leigh had taken his place beside her, for suddenly her figure swayed; his arm closed round her and, calling to the captain to help him, he lowered her and laid her on the deck.
"My sister has fainted. Bring a bucket of water."
Madame Flambard took Patsey from him.
"She thinks she sees her husband in that boat," Leigh said. "Pray try and get her round, before it comes up. I think it must be he; but if it should not be, we will take her below, directly we are sure. It will be a terrible blow to her to be disappointed, now; but possibly they may have news of him, and that would be almost as good as his being here."
"She could not have recognized him, at this distance," Monsieur Flambard said.
"No, she did not; but he would have recognized her. At least, he must have seen that there was a woman standing upon the rail, watching them; and it was hardly likely that, coming in his own boat, it should be anyone but her. I don't see why anyone else should have waved his arms, suddenly, in the way that he did."
He took the bucket of water from Lefaux's hands.
"We think it is Captain Martin," he said. "Run up the shrouds and take a look through the glass."
Then, taking a double handful of water, he dashed it into his sister's face.