There was a vacant seat near him; he beckoned to me to occupy it, and I hastened to take possession.
Was it by chance?
I know not; but the Englishwoman was seated on Ephrinell's left and talking to him.

He introduced me.
"Miss Horatia Bluett," he said.
Opposite I saw the French couple conscientiously studying the bill of fare.
At the other end of the table, close to where the food came from--and where the people got served first--was the German passenger, a man strongly built and with a ruddy face, fair hair, reddish beard, clumsy hands, and a very long nose which reminded one of the proboscidean feature of the plantigrades.

He had that peculiar look of the officers of the Landsturm threatened with premature obesity.
"He is not late this time," said I to Ephrinell.
"The dinner hour is never forgotten in the German Empire!" replied the American.
"Do you know that German's name ?" "Baron Weissschnitzerdoerfer." "And with that name is he going to Pekin ?" "To Pekin, like that Russian major who is sitting near the captain of the _Astara_." I looked at the man indicated.

He was about fifty years of age, of true Muscovite type, beard and hair turning gray, face prepossessing.

I knew Russian: he ought to know French.