"How pale you are, Miss Nelly," I said to my companion, as she
leaned upon my arm, almost fainting.

"And you!" she replied, "ah! you are so changed."

"Just think! this is a most exciting moment, and I am delighted to
spend it with you, Miss Nelly. I hope that your memory will
sometimes revert---"

But she was not listening. She was nervous and excited. The
gangway was placed in position, but, before we could use it, the
uniformed customs officers came on board. Miss Nelly murmured:

"I shouldn't be surprised to hear that Arsene Lupin escaped from
the vessel during the voyage."

"Perhaps he preferred death to dishonor, and plunged into the
Atlantic rather than be arrested."

"Oh, do not laugh," she said.

Suddenly I started, and, in answer to her question, I said:

"Do you see that little old man standing at the bottom of the
gangway?"

"With an umbrella and an olive-green coat?"

"It is Ganimard."