The sight of the girl at that instant meant a great deal to him.
He did happen to look out, a second too late.
Even then, he might have caught a glimpse of Iris's pink muslin skirt disappearing behind a clump of rhododendrons, were not his shifty eyes screwed up in calculation--or perchance, the gods blinded him in behalf of one who was named after Juno's bright messenger.
"Yes, that's it," he was thinking.

"I must wheedle Dickey into the bank to-morrow.

A word from 'im, an' they'll all grovel, d--n 'em!" The door opened.
"Captain Coke to see you, sir," said a servant.
"Send 'im in; bring 'im in 'ere." The memorandum book disappeared; Verity's hearty greeting was that of a man who had not a care in the world.

His visitor's description was writ large on him by the sea.

No one could possibly mistake Captain Coke for any other species of captain than that of master mariner.