I turned into a deserted landing, and suddenly all became very still and quiet around me, and I descended the bare and shiny staircase in a silence that enabled me to compose my distracted thoughts.

Down below I met one of the resident surgeons who was crossing the courtyard and stopped me.

"Been to see your man, Captain?
I think we may let him go to-morrow.

These fools have no notion of taking care of themselves, though.

I say, we've got the chief engineer of that pilgrim ship here.