Will you allow me to help you to some of it ?" continued the stranger very politely.
"Thank you, sir; I will take some of it, if you please," replied Christy, as he passed his plate across the table.

"Of course, as you have done me the honor to take a seat at my table, I must be acquainted with you." "We have met before," replied the stranger.

"Shall I help you to some of these fried potatoes?
They are very good, and I can recommend them.
I have already learned that you have an excellent cook on board.

I should judge from these potatoes that he was brought up in New Orleans." "It may be he was; I don't know about that.

You say that we have met before, but to save my life, I cannot recall the time, and I am sorry to add that I do not identify your face as that of any person I ever saw before.