"I expect it's the quietest spot on board the ship." He pushed the door open and stopped.

The small room was bright with electric light and a young man and woman sat opposite each other at the table.

The man's uniform was stained by oil; the girl was pretty and fashionably dressed, but Barbara knew her clothes were cheap.

She stood at the door, hesitating, and the man gave Lister a smile like the captain's.
"I didn't expect you yet, but come in," he said.

"The tea's not cold, and Mike has made some doughnuts." "Mr.Robertson, my chief," Lister said to Barbara, and the man presented Lister to his companion, and put a machine in a box on the floor.