there is
no man in all the world whom I would so implicitly trust as yourself;
therefore I ask you, as a very great favour, to come into this affair
with us. It will just nicely fill up your six months' holiday--for the
whole affair will be over in six months, or less--and give you such a
jolly, exciting time as you may never again meet with during the rest of
your life. Now, what do you say to that?"

"I say that your Pater must be consulted before the matter is allowed to
go any further," answered Jack. "You can mention it to him between now
and to-night, if you like, and if the idea is agreeable to him we can
discuss it after dinner. And that reminds me that you have not yet
mentioned the place or the hour of meeting."

"We are staying at the Cecil, and we dine at seven sharp," answered
Montijo. "But don't go yet, old chap, unless I am boring you. Am I?"

"Do you remember my once punching your head at Dulwich for some trifling
misdemeanour?" asked Jack laughingly, as he linked his arm in that of
Montijo. "Very well, then. If you talk like that you will compel me to
do it again. Do you know, Carlos, this scheme of yours is rapidly
exercising a subtle and singularly powerful fascination over me? and
even if your father should hesitate to entrust his boat to me, I feel
very like asking him to let me take a hand in the game, just for the fun
of the thing. And what a splendid opportunity it would afford for
testing the powers of my submarine! Oh, by Jove, I think I must go, one
way or another!"

The two young men wandered about the Park for nearly an hour longer,
discussing the matter eagerly, and even going so far as to make certain
tentative plans; and then they separated and went their respective ways,
with the understanding that they were to meet again at the Cecil.

Jack was putting up at Morley's Hotel, in Trafalgar Square, and his
nearest way back to it was, of course, down Piccadilly; but as he passed
out through the Park gate he suddenly bethought himself of certain
purchases that he wished to make at the Army and Navy Stores, and he
accordingly crossed the road and entered the Green Park, with the
intention of passing through it and Saint James's Park, and so into
Victoria Street by way of Queen Anne's Gate and the side streets leading
therefrom. He had got about halfway across Green Park when he became
aware of quick footsteps approaching him from behind, and the next
moment he was overtaken a