Not too long
beforeFrom the other side of the door, might be heard, "Bear a hand there, to take in sail!"
...And a few moments later,
"Stand by there to lower the topsails and jib; brail up the spanker!"
Some time passes, again, before the door is opened, enthusiastically, to reveal a tall, slim, young man with hair the colour of a ravens wing and eyes of a similar hue. A young man, between the ages of eighteen and twenty, clad in a complete sailor's suit -- a garb, as we all know, very simple, and consisting of white trousers, a striped shirt, and a cap.
"Mercédès!" He cries brightly as he steps through.
--But the brilliant smile freezes on his face as he looks about in alarm. "Mercédès?" Not seeing his betrothed, he whirls around to face-- "Pardieu! The door..."
A sailor may do well, for long periods, out of port, but a man, beloved of a beautiful young woman, might have a harder time when kept from his sweetheart.
Someone welcome the poor, frightened and confused,
young man, lover, sailor new arrival.