The principle I have just mentioned as operating had been , with the most newly disembarked disembark of the two men , wholly instinctive -- the fruit of a sharp sense sense that , delightful as it would be to find himself looking , after so much separation , into his comrade 's face , his business would be a trifle bungled should he simply arrange for this countenance to present itself to the nearing near steamer as the first " note note , " of Europe .