The Tornado was lying in the Golden Horn, having made her last trip to the Crimea, when a caique came alongside, an old gentleman in somewhat quaint costume seated in the stern. Green, who happened to be near the gangway, on looking down recognised his old German friend, Herr Groben. “Glad to see you,” he exclaimed, as he ran down to help him up the accommodation ladder.
“Ah, my friend Green, I am delighted to see you,” answered Herr Groben, shaking his hand warmly with both of his. “I come on a very delicate and important matter, and you can help me greatly.”
“Very glad to help you to do anything you wish,” answered Green, “provided it doesn’t amount to treason or petty larceny.”
“Ah, no, my friend, this is no treason,” answered the old tutor, looking over his shoulder as if he expected to see a Russian spy there; “it relates entirely to another sort of affair. You know that Mr Higson, the first lieutenant of this ship, fell in love with the eldest sister of my pupils; and, to confess to you the truth, the young lady fell in love with him, and she has been expecting now that the dreadful war is over that he would go back and claim her hand.”
“So I suppose he intends doing when the ship is paid off; but, till then, he is not his own master, and he could not get away however much he might wish it,” answered Green.
“Ah, Mademoiselle Ivanowna does not understand that sort of thing, and began so to pine and fret that she became very ill indeed; and, seeing her state, I volunteered to come to Constantinople, where I heard your ship was likely to be found, to bear a message to Lieutenant Higson; and I have been greatly anxious till I got on board lest the ship should have sailed away. Where is your first lieutenant, that I may deliver myself forth of my message?”
“For a wonder he has gone on shore,” answered Green, “but he will be off again soon; and, in the meantime, we will take good care of you; so come down at once into the gun-room, and we shall have luncheon on the table immediately.”
Herr Groben was warmly received by the officers when they heard who he was, and soon had out of him the whole history of the loves of Lieutenant Higson and the fair Ivanowna. Lieutenant Mildmay expressed his intention of writing it in verse; the doctor proposed their healths during luncheon, in conjunction with that of the Queen of England and the Emperor of Russia, now the best friends in the world. After luncheon, as Higson did not appear, Herr Groben expressed a wish to go round the ship, and Green at once offered to conduct him. As he was going round the lower deck, he popped his head into the midshipmen’s berth, when, whom should he see seated directly before him but Tom Rogers.
The recognition was mutual; Tom started up. “Oh, Herr Groben, I am delighted to see you!” he exclaimed. “Do tell me, how is Miss Feodorowna? Have you just come from there?”
“Not very long ago,” answered Herr Groben; “and I can tell you they have not forgotten you, and she told me if I saw you to give her very kind remembrances.”