The distant perfume of her person and her genteel elegance reminded him of certain dubious ladies who were always traveling alone when he was captain of the transatlantic liners.

But these acquaintances had been so rapid and were so far away!...

Never in his history as a world-rover had he had the good luck to chance upon a woman just like this one.
Again exchanging glances with her, he felt that throb in the heart and flash in the brain which accompany a lightning-like and unexpected discovery...

He had known that woman: he could not recall where he had seen her, but he was sure that he must have known her.
Her face told his memory nothing, but those eyes had exchanged glances with his on other occasions.

In vain he reflected, concentrating his thoughts....