He himself was at the gangway to meet him, and twelve of the sailors, with drawn cutlasses, saluted as Harry stepped on to the deck.
The lieutenant, a young man of about four or five and twenty, looked surprised when he found that the official, whom he was to carry down to Java, was apparently younger than himself.
"I suppose, Captain Fairclough," Harry said with a smile, when they entered the cabin, "that you expected to see a middle-aged man." "Hardly that, Captain Lindsay.

I heard that you were a young officer, who had rendered distinguished services on the Bombay side, and had just returned from an important mission in the Deccan; but I own that I had not at all expected to see an officer younger than myself." "I can quite understand that.

I have been exceptionally fortunate, owing to the fact that I speak Mahratti as well as English.

Well, I hope that after your reception we have done with ceremony; and that you will forget that I am, at present, a civil official with the temporary rank of commissioner, and regard and treat me as you might any young officer who had been given a passage in your brig.
I have led a pretty rough life, and hate anything like ceremony.

We may be some weeks on board together, and should have a pleasant time of it, especially as the whole country is new to me." "And to me also," the lieutenant said.