And if they were real, surely his father was one of those
who knew the secret. His thoughts ran very fast. The Rat's boyish
invention of the rising was only part of a game, but how natural it
would be that sometime--perhaps before long--there would be a real
rising! Surely there would be one if the Secret Party had grown so
strong, and if many weapons and secret friends in other countries were
ready and waiting. During all these years, hidden work and preparation
would have been going on continually, even though it was preparation
for an unknown day. A party which had lasted so long--which passed its
oath on from generation to generation--must be of a deadly
determination.

What might it not have made ready in its caverns and secret
meeting-places! He longed to reach home and tell his father, at once,
all he had heard. He recalled to mind, word for word, all that The Rat
had been told, and even all he had added in his game, because--well,
because that seemed so real too, so real that it actually might be
useful.

But when he reached No. 7 Philibert Place, he found Loristan and
Lazarus very much absorbed in work. The door of the back sitting-room
was locked when he first knocked on it, and locked again as soon as he
had entered. There were many papers on the table, and they were
evidently studying them. Several of them were maps. Some were road
maps, some maps of towns and cities, and some of fortifications; but
they were all maps of places in Samavia. They were usually kept in a
strong box, and when they were taken out to be studied, the door was
always kept locked.

Before they had their evening meal, these were all returned to the
strong box, which was pushed into a corner and had newspapers piled
upon it.

"When he arrives," Marco heard Loristan say to Lazarus, "we can show
him clearly what has been planned. He can see for himself."

His father spoke scarcely at all during the meal, and, though it was
not the habit of Lazarus to speak at such times unless spoken to, this
evening it seemed to Marco that he LOOKED more silent than he had ever
seen him look before. They were plainly both thinking anxiously of
deeply serious things. The story of the stranger who had been to
Samavia must not be told yet. But it was one which would keep.

Loristan did not say anything until Lazarus had removed the things from
the table and made the room as neat as possible. While that was being
done, he sat with h