IwasunhappywhenIclosedmyeyes；anditwastounhappinessthatIopenedthemagainnextmorning，toaconfusedsenseofsomecalamitystillinarticulate，andtotheconsciousnessofjadedlimbsandofaswimminghead。Imusthavelainforsometimeinertandstupidlymiserable，beforeI
becameawareofareiteratedknockingatthedoor；withwhichdiscoveryallmywitsflowedbackintheiraccustomedchannels，andIrememberedthesale，andthewreck，andGoddedaal，andNares，andJohnson，andBlackTom，andthetroublesofyesterday，andthemanifoldengagementsofthedaythatwastocome。Thethoughtthrilledmelikeatrumpetinthehourofbattle。Inamoment，Ihadleapedfrombed，crossedtheofficewherePinkertonlayinadeeptranceofsleepontheconvertiblesofa，andstoodinthedoorway，inmynightgear，toreceiveourvisitors。
Johnsonwasfirst，bywayofusher，smiling。Fromalittlebehind，withhisSundayhattiltedforwardoverhisbrow，andacigarglowingbetweenhislips，CaptainNaresacknowledgedourpreviousacquaintancewithasuccinctnod。Behindhimagain，inthetopofthestairway，aknotofsailors，thenewcrewoftheNorahCreina，stoodpolishingthewallwithbackandelbow。TheseIleftwithouttotheirreflections。ButourtwoofficersIcarriedatonceintotheoffice，wheretakingJimbytheshoulderIshookhimslowlyintoconsciousness。Hesatup，allabroadforthemoment，andstaredonthenewcaptain。
“Jim。”saidI，“thisisCaptainNares。Captain，Mr。Pinkerton。”
Naresrepeatedhiscurtnod，stillwithoutspeech；andIthoughtheheldusbothunderawatchfulscrutiny。