noon
At the jail a watch was kept to see whether Gaston would have visitors , but none came . M. Lemaire and Mlle. Nadiboff were known to be still at the hotel , but they did not go near their man in trouble . Neither did Lemaire or the Russian appear about the grounds of the hotel . At noon a letter from Lieutenant Commander Kimball came aboard the submarine , inquiring whether Captain Benson could make it convenient to take him and several officers out to sea afternoon and give an exhibition of the boat 's diving powers . `` After we 've taken the boat out ourselves , and tested her , '' was the answer Captain Jack sent back . `` With so many spies about we want to be sure that the boat is in safe running order before we risk the lives of half a dozen naval officers . '' A luncheon was eaten , after which , the young submarine captain hastily climbed the stairs to the conning tower .