Lord Glenarvan could not but welcome such a guest,
and shook hands cordially.

"And now that our introductions are over," he added, "you will allow me,
Monsieur Paganel, to ask you a question?"

"Twenty, my Lord, " replied Paganel; "it will always be a pleasure
to converse with you."

"Was it last evening that you came on board this vessel?"

"Yes, my Lord, about 8 o'clock. I jumped into a cab at the
Caledonian Railway, and from the cab into the SCOTIA, where I
had booked my cabin before I left Paris. It was a dark night,
and I saw no one on board, so I found cabin No. 6, and went
to my berth immediately, for I had heard that the best way
to prevent sea-sickness is to go to bed as soon as you start,
and not to stir for the first few days; and, moreover, I had
been traveling for thirty hours. So I tucked myself in,
and slept conscientiously, I assure you, for thirty-six hours."

Paganel's listeners understood the whole mystery, now, of his
presence on the DUNCAN. The French traveler had mistaken his vessel,
and gone on board while the crew were attending the service
at St. Mungo's. All was explained. But what would the learned
geographer say, when he heard the name and destination of the ship,
in which he had taken passage?

"Then it is Calcutta, M. Paganel, that you have chosen as your point