CHAPTER 4.
It was not easy to find Mrs.Crayford in the crowd.

Searching here, and searching there, Frank became conscious of a stranger, who appeared to be looking for somebody, on his side.

He was a dark, heavy-browed, strongly-built man, dressed in a shabby old naval officer's uniform.
His manner--strikingly resolute and self-contained--was unmistakably the manner of a gentleman.

He wound his way slowly through the crowd; stopping to look at every lady whom he passed, and then looking away again with a frown.

Little by little he approached the conservatory--entered it, after a moment's reflection--detected the glimmer of a white dress in the distance, through the shrubs and flowers--advanced to get a nearer view of the lady--and burst into Clara's presence with a cry of delight.
She sprang to her feet.