The old gent stopped a moment, thin and stiff, before the young man, and in a voice which was low but distinct enough, and without any particular accent--not even of inquiry--he said: "You are the new second officer, I believe." Mr.Powell answered in the affirmative, wondering if this were a friendly overture.

He had noticed that Mr.Smith's eyes had a sort of inward look as though he had disliked or disdained his surroundings.

The captain's wife had disappeared then down the companion stairs.

Mr.Smith said 'Ah!' and waited a little longer to put another question in his incurious voice.
"And did you know the man who was here before you ?" "No," said young Powell, "I didn't know anybody belonging to this ship before I joined." "He was much older than you.

Twice your age.