But should the latter mention the bare fact of Kinraid's impressment to Robson?
That would have been the natural course of things, remembering that the last time Philip had seen either, they were in each other's company.

Twenty times he put his pen to the paper with the intention of relating briefly the event that had befallen Kinraid; and as often he stopped, as though the first word would be irrevocable.

While he thus sate pen in hand, thinking himself wiser than conscience, and looking on beyond the next step which she bade him take into an indefinite future, he caught some fragments of the sailors' talk at the other end of the room, which made him listen to their words.

They were speaking of that very Kinraid, the thought of whom filled his own mind like an actual presence.

In a rough, careless way they spoke of the specksioneer, with admiration enough for his powers as a sailor and harpooner; and from that they passed on to jesting mention of his power amongst women, and one or two girls' names were spoken of in connection with him.