"Then commit suicide."
The professor collapsed again.
"Are you entirely heartless?" he moaned. "Can you joke when I am suffering such misery?"
His face was covered with perspiration, and he was all a-quiver, so that Frank was really touched.
"You can apologize, professor."
"Apologize for what? I don't know that I have done anything to apologize for; but then I'll apologize rather than fight."
"Well, I guess you'll be able to get out of it some way."
But it was no easy thing to reassure the agitated man, as Frank soon discovered.
"I'll tell you what, professor," said the boy; "you may send a representative—a substitute."
"I don't think it will be easy to find a substitute."