"Oh, Captain Kendrick," she cried, "I am so very glad you have come. We have just had such a surprise! Such a very unexpected surprise, but a very delightful one. Come! You must meet him."
She took his hand and led him toward the stranger. The latter, seeing them approach, politely pushed through the group surrounding him and stepped forward. Sears noticed for the first time that the sleeve of his coat was encircled by a broad band of black. His tie was black also, so were his cuff buttons. He was in mourning. An amazing idea flashed to the captain's brain.
"Captain Kendrick," gushed Mrs. Berry, "I have the honor to present you to Mr. Phillips, husband of our beloved founder."
Mr. Phillips smiled—his teeth were very fine, his smile engaging. He extended a hand.
"I am delighted to meet Captain Kendrick," he said.
The captain's stammered answer was conventional, and was not a literal expression of his thought. The latter, put into words, would have been:
"Egbert! I might have known it."
But there was no real reason why he should have known it, for this Egbert was not at all like the Egbert he had been expecting to see.