CHAPTER XVI.
"O! ARTEMIDORUS, FAREWELL!" Whether or not Mr.Jellicoe was surprised to see us, it is impossible to say.

His countenance (which served the ordinary purposes of a face, inasmuch as it contained the principal organs of special sense, with the inlets to the alimentary and respiratory tracts) was, as an apparatus for the expression of the emotions, a total failure.

To a thought-reader it would have been about as helpful as the face carved upon the handle of an umbrella; a comparison suggested, perhaps, by a certain resemblance to such an object.

He advanced, holding his open note-book and pencil, and having saluted us with a stiff bow and an old-fashioned flourish of his hat, shook hands rheumatically and waited for us to speak.
"This is an unexpected pleasure, Mr.Jellicoe," said Miss Bellingham.
"It is very good of you to say so," he replied.
"And quite a coincidence--that we should all happen to come here on the same day." "A coincidence, certainly," he admitted; "and if we had all happened not to come--which must have occurred frequently--that also would have been a coincidence." "I suppose it would," said she, "but I hope we are not interrupting you." "Thank you, no.

I had just finished when I had the pleasure of perceiving you." "You were making some notes in reference to the case, I imagine," said I.It was an impertinent question, put with malice aforethought for the mere pleasure of hearing him evade it.
"The case ?" he repeated.