"On the subject of the buffalo?" asked Captain Cannon.
"Precisely."
No objection was made to this, and those named on the committee accepted the honor imposed upon them.
Jack was willing enough to go to America, because Miss Van Hoosen was also going to that country, and he thought sufficiently well of her to wish to enjoy her society.
When all was settled, the meeting adjourned, and Jack went to apprise Mr. Mole of his selection as one of the Buffalo Investigating Committee.
The professor was still sleeping calmly, but he had attracted the attention of Lord Maltravers.
This scion of the aristocracy was about twenty-five years of age, very rich and extremely haughty.
His father died when he was young. He was educated by a private tutor who let him have his way in everything. His mother doted on and spoilt him.
Young, rich, titled, handsome, what wonder was it, that he was arrogant and thought himself cast in a superior mold to his fellow-creatures, whom he despised and looked down upon. Maltravers hated Jack Harkaway, in the first place because Jack paid him no deference, and secondly because he fancied Lena Van Hoosen preferred the dashing Jack to himself.
Knowing that Professor Mole was a friend of Jack's he lost no opportunity of insulting him.