"If you'll wait a moment, I'll let down the accommodation ladder," answered the Lieutenant.
The ladder having been lowered, the visitor, who carried a small leather handbag, mounted to the deck.
"I should be greatly obliged," said he, taking the card-case from his pocket again and presenting a card to the officer, "if you would give this to Mr. John Brighouse, and ask if I might be permitted to see him."
The Lieutenant took the card, and, turning to the bos'n who was standing near, asked him if there was any one called John Brighouse on board.
"No one as I knows of, sir," answered the bos'n.
"I'm afraid you have made a mistake, sir," said the Lieutenant, but at that moment Calamity appeared on deck, and, catching sight of the visitor, hurried towards him.
"Vayne, by all that's wonderful!" he exclaimed.
The solicitor stared at him in a puzzled fashion for a moment, and then his eyes lit up with a flash of recognition.
"Bless my soul, John, I shouldn't have known you!" he exclaimed as they shook hands.
"Fifteen years make a great difference, eh?"