midday
`` Welcome aboard , '' he said , giving us hearty hand-shakes ; and without further inspection at that hour we followed him to the cabin , where steaming coffee brought the blood to our hands and feet , and put us in better mood . `` So my sister 's here , '' said Roderick , as he filled his cup for the third time . `` Yes , last night , no orders , '' jerked the skipper with his usual brevity . `` Ah , we must see to that -- and the second officer -- '' `` Still ashore ; he left a bit of writing ; he 'll be aboard midday ! '' He had the writing in his hand , and was about to crumple it , but I caught sight of it , and snatched it from him . It was in the same handwriting as the letter which Captain Black had sent to me at the Hôtel Scribe in Paris . `` What 's the matter ? ''