und the city and then get down to San Diego
and take a look at the Exposition there. No responsibilities, no one to
look after, nothing to do but enjoy ourselves."

"Capital!" the Professor agreed, beaming upon them all. "There is a
collection of fossilised remains in the museum here, the study of which
will afford me the greatest pleasure and interest."

The girls laughed heartily.

"I think you and I," Quest suggested, turning to them, "will part company
with the Professor!"

* * * * *

Quest and Lenora turned away from the window of the hotel, out of which
they had been gazing for the last quarter of an hour. Stretched out before
them were the lights of the Exposition, a blur of twinkling diamonds
against the black garb of night. Beyond, the flashing of a light-house and
a faint background of dark sea.

"It's too beautiful," Lenora sighed.

Quest stood for a moment shaking his head. The Professor with a pile of
newspapers stretched out before him, was completely engrossed in their
perusal. Laura, who had been sitting in an armchair at the further end of
the apartment, was apparently deep in thought. The newspaper which she had
been reading had slipped unnoticed from her fingers.

"Say, you two are no sort of people for a holiday," Quest declared. "As
for you, Laura, I can't think what's come over you. You never opened your
mouth at dinner-time, and you sit there now looking like nothing on
earth."

"I am beginning to suspect her," Lenora chimed in. "Too bad he had to
hurry away, dear!"

Laura's indignation was not altogether convincing. Quest and Lenora
exchanged amused glances. The former picked up the newspaper from the
floor and calmly turned out the Professor's lamp.

"Look here," he explained, "this is the first night of our holiday. I'm
going to run the party and I'm going to make the rules. No more newspapers
to-night or for a fortnight. You understand? No reading, nothing but
frivolity. And no love-sickness, Miss Laura."

"Love-sickness, indeed!" she repeated scornfully.

"Having arranged those minor details," Quest concluded, "on with your
hats, everybody. I am going to take you out to a cafe where they play the
best music in the city. We are going to have supper, drink one another's
health, and try and forget the last few months altogether."

Lenora clapped her hands and Laura rose at once to her feet. The Professor
obediently crossed the room for his hat.