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excited。〃
The story was received by those fellow…passengers who had been
strongest in their suspicions of Hurlstone's suicide or flight；
with a keen sense of discomfiture； only mitigated by a humorous
perception of the cause of the accident。 It was agreed that a man
whose ludicrous infirmity had been the cause of putting the ship
out of her course； and the passengers out of their comfortable
security； could not be wronged by attributing to him manlier and
more criminal motives。 A somnambulist on shipboard was clearly a
humorous object； who might； however； become a bore。 〃It all
accounts for his being so deuced quiet and reserved in the
daytime；〃 said Crosby facetiously； 〃he couldn't keep it up the
whole twenty…four hours。 If he'd only given us a little more of
his company when he was awake； he wouldn't have gallivanted round
at night； and we'd have been thirty miles nearer port。〃 Equal
amusement was created by the humorous suggestion that the
unfortunate man had never been entirely awake during the voyage；
and that he would now； probably for the first time； really make the
acquaintance of his fellow…voyagers。 Listening to this badinage
with bland tolerance； Senor Perkins no doubt felt that； for the
maintenance of that perfect amity he so ardently apostrophized； it
was just as well that Hurlstone was in his state…room； and out of
hearing。
He would have been more satisfied； however； had he been permitted
to hear the feminine comments on this incident。 In the eyes of the
lady passengers Mr。 Hurlstone was more a hero than ever； his
mysterious malady invested him with a vague and spiritual interest；
his escape from the awful fate reserved to him； in their excited
fancy； gave him the eclat of having ACTUALLY survived it； while the
supposed real incident of his fall through the hatchway lent him
the additional lustre of a wounded and crippled man。 That
prostrate condition of active humanity； which so irresistibly
appeals to the feminine imagination as segregating their victim
from the distractions of his own sex； and； as it were； delivering
him helpless into their hands； was at once their opportunity； and
his。 All the ladies volunteered to nurse him； it was with
difficulty that Mrs。 Brimmer and Mrs。 Markham； reinforced with
bandages； flannels； and liniments； and supported by different
theories； could be kept from the door of his state…room。 Jellies；
potted meats； and delicacies from their private stores appeared on
trays at his bedside； to be courteously declined by the Senor
Perkins； in his new functions of a benevolent type of Sancho Panza
physician。 To say that this pleased the gentle optimism of the
Senor is unnecessary。 Even while his companion writhed under the
sting of this enforced compassion； the good man beamed philosophically
upon him。
〃Take care； or I shall end this cursed farce in my own way；〃 said
Hurlstone ominously； his eyes again filming with a vague
desperation。
〃My dear boy；〃 returned the Senor gently； 〃reflect upon the
situation。 Your suffering； real or implied； produces in the hearts
of these gentle creatures a sympathy which not only exalts and
sustains their higher natures； but； I conscientiously believe；
gratifies and pleases their lower ones。 Why should you deny them
this opportunity of indulging their twofold organisms； and
beguiling the tedium of the voyage； merely because of some
erroneous exhibition of fact？〃
Later； Senor Perkins might have added to this exposition the
singularly stimulating effect which Hurlstone's supposed peculiarity
had upon the feminine imagination。 But there were some secrets
which were not imparted even to him； and it was only to each other
that the ladies confided certain details and reminiscences。 For it
now appeared that they had all heard strange noises and stealthy
steps at night； and Mrs。 Brimmer was quite sure that on one occasion
the handle of her state…room door was softly turned。 Mrs。 Markham
also remembered distinctly that only a week before； being unable to
sleep； she had ventured out into the saloon in a dressing…gown to
get her diary； which she had left with a portfolio on a chair； that
she had a sudden consciousness of another presence in the saloon；
although she could distinguish nothing by the dim light of the
swinging lantern； and that； after quickly returning to her room； she
was quite positive she heard a door close。 But the most surprising
reminiscence developed by the late incident was from Mrs。 Brimmer's
nurse； Susan。 As it； apparently； demonstrated the fact that Mr。
Hurlstone not only walked but TALKED in his sleep； it possessed a
more mysterious significance。 It seemed that Susan was awakened one
night by the sound of voices； and； opening her door softly； saw a
figure which she at first supposed to be the Senor Perkins； but
which she now was satisfied was poor Mr。 Hurlstone。 As there was no
one else to be seen； the voices must have proceeded from that single
figure； and being in a strange and unknown tongue； were
inexpressibly weird and awful。 When pressed to remember what was
said； she could only distinguish one worda woman's nameVirgil
Vigilno： Virginescia！
〃It must have been one of those creatures at Callao； whose pictures
you can buy for ten cents；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer。
〃If it is one of them； Susan must have made a mistake in the first
two syllables of the name；〃 said Mrs。 Markham grimly。
〃But surely； Miss Keene；〃 said Miss Chubb； turning to that young
lady； who had taken only the part of a passive listener to this
colloquy； and was gazing over the railing at the sinking sun；
〃surely YOU can tell us something about this poor young man。 If I
don't mistake； you are the only person he ever honored with his
conversation。〃
〃And only once； I think；〃 said the young girl； slightly coloring。
〃He happened to be sitting next to me on deck； and I believe he
spoke only out of politeness。 At least； he seemed very quiet and
reserved； and talked on general topics； and I thought very
intelligently。 Ishould have thoughtI mean；〃 she continued
hesitatingly〃I thought he was an educated gentleman。〃
〃That isn't at all inconsistent with photographs or sleep…walking；〃
said Mrs。 Brimmer； with one of her vague simplicities。 〃Uncle
Quincey brought home a whole sheaf of those women whom he said he'd
met； and one of my cousins； who was educated at Heidelberg； used to
walk in his sleep； as it were； all over Europe。〃
〃Did you notice anything queer in his eyes； Miss Keene？〃 asked Miss
Chubb vivaciously。
Miss Keene had noticed that his eyes were his best feature； albeit
somewhat abstracted and melancholy； but； for some vague reason she
could not explain herself； she answered hurriedly that she had seen
nothing very particular in them。
〃Well；〃 said Mrs。 Markham positively； 〃when he's able to be out
again； I shall consider it my duty to look him up； and try to keep
him sufficiently a