The Cruise of the Thetis | Page 5

you possibly tell that I should behave on the square with you? How can
you tell that, after having been put into legal possession of the yacht, I
should not order you and your father ashore and forbid you both to ever
set foot upon her decks again?"
Montijo laughed joyously. "Never mind how I know it, Jack," he
answered. "I do know it, and that is enough. And if that is not a
sufficiently convincing argument for you, here is another. You will
admit that, in order to avoid the difficulty which I have pointed out, we
must trust somebody, mustn't we? Very well. Now I say that 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 and accosted by a rather handsome
man, irreproachably attired in frock-coat, glossy top-hat, and other
garments to match. The stranger was evidently a foreigner--perhaps a
Spaniard, Jack thought, although he spoke English with scarcely a trace
of accent. Raising his hat, he said:
"Pardon me, sir, but may I venture to enquire whether the gentleman
from whom you parted a few minutes ago happens to be named

Montijo?"
"Certainly," answered Jack; "there can be no possible objection to your
making such an enquiry, somewhat peculiar though it is. But whether I
answer it or not must depend upon the reason which you may assign for
asking the question. It is not usual, here in England, for total strangers
to ask such personal questions as yours without being prepared to
explain why they are asked."
"Precisely!" assented the stranger suavely. "My reason for asking is
that I am particularly anxious to see Senor Montijo on very important
business of a strictly private nature, and should your friend happen to
be the gentleman in question I was about to ask if you would have the
very great goodness to oblige me with his present address."
"I see," said Jack. "What caused you to think that my friend might
possibly be the individual you are so anxious to meet?"
"Simply a strong general resemblance, nothing more," answered the
stranger.
"Then, my dear sir," said Jack, "since you saw my friend--for