Jacques Paganel is Undeceived

           THESecretaryoftheGeographicalSocietywasevidentlyanamiablepersonage,forallthiswassaidinamostcharmingmanner.LordGlenarvanknewquitewellwhohewasnow,forhehadoftenheardPaganelspokenof,andwasawareofhismerits.Hisgeographicalworks,hispapersonmoderndiscoveries,insertedinthereportsoftheSociety,andhisworld-widecorrespondence,gavehimamostdistinguishedplaceamongtheLITERATIofFrance.

           LordGlenarvancouldnotbutwelcomesuchaguest,andshookhandscordially.

           "Andnowthatourintroductionsareover,"headded,"youwillallowme,MonsieurPaganel,toaskyouaquestion?"

           "Twenty,myLord,"repliedPaganel;"itwillalwaysbeapleasuretoconversewithyou."

           "Wasitlasteveningthatyoucameonboardthisvessel?"

           "Yes,myLord,about8o’clock.IjumpedintoacabattheCaledonianRailway,andfromthecabintotheSCOTIA,whereIhadbookedmycabinbeforeIleftParis.Itwasadarknight,andIsawnooneonboard,soIfoundcabinNo.6,andwenttomyberthimmediately,forIhadheardthatthebestwaytopreventsea-sicknessistogotobedassoonasyoustart,andnottostirforthefirstfewdays;and,moreover,Ihadbeentravelingforthirtyhours.SoItuckedmyselfin,andsleptconscientiously,Iassureyou,forthirty-sixhours."

           Paganel’slistenersunderstoodthewholemystery,now,ofhispresenceontheDuncan.TheFrenchtravelerhadmistakenhisvessel,andgoneonboardwhilethecrewwereattendingtheserviceatSt.Mungo’s.Allwasexplained.