When Frank returned to his rooms that evening he was able to tell Professor Scotch a yarn that threw the little man into a state of great consternation.
“This settles it!” he declared. “We’ll leave London immediately.”
“Not on your life!” returned the boy, emphatically. “Think I am going to run away without knowing what all this racket means? Not much!”
“It is suicidal to remain!” shouted the professor. “I shall force you to go!”
“You will have a jolly time doing it.”
“This is outrageous! I suppose you would insist on remaining here if you knew you would be blown up!”
“Not quite. Let’s sit down and talk this matter over sensibly. Come now. I want to explain why I am not going to be driven away.”
After a time, the boy induced Scotch to sit down and listen. He then explained that in case such determined and desperate efforts had been made against his life, it was not likely he could escape his enemies simply by leaving London. They did not seem to be the kind of enemies who would be baffled so easily; but they would follow, and they might find a much better and safer place for them to do their terrible design than in the heart of crowded London.
The professor advised slipping out of London secretly and in disguise, if necessary; but Frank ridiculed such a thing, saying it might throw the suspicions of the police upon them.
“And you know I have been watched by the police for some time. It is likely they are still keeping me under surveillance, and they might arrest us both as suspicious characters if we tried to skip in disguise. It won’t do, professor.”