"It would seem so," Jack almost drawled. "You said the 3.08, didn't you? How far do you go? All the way to Genoa?"
"Yes. What is there extraordinary about that?"
"Why, nothing much," returned Jack in a brisker tone, throwing away the butt of his cigarette; "only—yes—that's the very train I go on myself. Same destination, too, unless I decide to stop at Bordighera."
There naturally was a sensation at this unexpected announcement. Katrine drew in her breath audibly; in the very nick of time Jerry caught himself in the act of saying profanely what he would be; Mrs. Fairhew closed her fan quickly, but she was too much mistress of herself to give any indication of her feelings beyond a little quick laugh.
"I had not remembered that you spoke of going," she said.
"No?" Jack said politely.
"But," gasped Jerry, "I say—you know, I say"—
Evidently his feelings were too much for him, and he collapsed. So sudden a move on the part of Jack was sure to disconcert his slower-witted comrade, and the captain had fortunately been prepared by previous experiences for some mental confusion on the part of the mate.
"Yes, Jerry?" he asked.
"Nothing—I—I don't remember what I was going to say," murmured the bewildered Tab.