"That's the man! Isn't he a boy? And, my gracious, the way he speaks of you! But now . . . now you must go to breakfast yourself, and I must be off about my business."
"Don't go yet," I said.
"I'll stay all day if you want me to; but I promised to meet the Lieutenant on the ship in half an hour, and . . ."
"Then you must go."
"Not yet. Sit down again. Five minutes will do no harm. And by the way, now that I look at you again, I'm not so sure that you . . . Italy, Egypt, there's enough sun down there, but you're pale . . . a little pale, aren't you?"
I tried to make light of my pallor but Martin looked uneasy, and after a moment he asked:
"How long are you staying in London?"
I told him I did not know, whereupon he said:
"Well, I'm to be here a month, making charts and tables and reports for the Royal Geographical Society, but if you want me for anything . . . do you want me now?"
"No-o, no, not now," I answered.