I have said that the story of Flora de Barral was imparted to me in stages.

At this stage I did not see Marlow for some time.

At last, one evening rather early, very soon after dinner, he turned up in my rooms.
I had been waiting for his call primed with a remark which had not occurred to me till after he had gone away.
"I say," I tackled him at once, "how can you be certain that Flora de Barral ever went to sea?
After all, the wife of the captain of the _Ferndale_--" the lady that mustn't be disturbed "of the old ship-keeper--may not have been Flora." "Well, I do know," he said, "if only because I have been keeping in touch with Mr.Powell." "You have!" I cried.

"This is the first I hear of it.

And since when ?" "Why, since the first day.