“It must have been, to lay you out like that,” agreed Lord Hastings.
“If it hadn’t been for that, I would have been in at the finish,” said Frank. “By the way, have you discovered any trace of the count?”
“Not yet; but by this time the Czar has given orders to scour the city and it is only a question of time until the count is apprehended.”
“I hope they get him, sir; and still, I would like to be there when they do.”
“You won’t be,” declared Lord Hastings grimly. “From present indications you will be here for the next three or four days. After this I am going to keep a closer eye on you. You two are too valuable officers for the king to lose; and that’s just what will happen unless I tie a string to you.”
“Oh, I guess you won’t do that, sir,” smiled Frank. “You wouldn’t like to be tied down, sir. Neither do we.”
“Well, perhaps I won’t do quite that bad,” said Lord Hastings; “but I am free to tell you that right now that is just exactly what I feel like doing.”
The conversation was continued for some moments longer; in fact, until the nurse approached and told Lord Hastings and Jack that they had talked long enough and that she would have her patient kept awake no longer.
Frank protested at first, but Lord Hastings silenced him.
“If you don’t keep quiet,” he said, “we won’t be permitted to see you to-morrow.”