It fell so.

One evening, when I had an engagement and was killing time until the hour, I chanced to walk in the court of the hotel while the band played.
The place was bright as day with the electric light; and I recognised, at some distance among the loiterers, the person of Bellairs in talk with a gentleman whose face appeared familiar.

It was certainly some one I had seen, and seen recently; but who or where, I knew not.

A porter standing hard by, gave me the necessary hint.

The stranger was an English navy man, invalided home from Honolulu, where he had left his ship; indeed, it was only from the change of clothes and the effects of sickness, that I had not immediately recognised my friend and correspondent, Lieutenant Sebright.
The conjunction of these planets seeming ominous, I drew near; but it seemed Bellairs had done his business; he vanished in the crowd, and I found my officer alone.
"Do you know whom you have been talking to, Mr.Sebright ?" I began.
"No," said he; "I don't know him from Adam.