“You will be all right in a week,” was his comforting verdict.
As Frank, Jack and Alice were dining with their hostess that evening, a huge motor-car drove up to the house. A footman jumped to the car and opened the door, and there stepped from within a tall man with a full beard. The footman bowed low, and the visitor, alone, made his way up the steps and into the house. A moment later he was escorted to Lord Hastings’ chamber.
This unceremonious entrance none of the diners saw, but the two boys were made aware of it a short time later. A butler entered the dining-room with word that Lord Hastings desired the presence of Frank and Jack at once.
The two lads followed the servant to Lord Hastings’ chamber, where the visitor sat near the nobleman’s bedside. Both lads stopped stock still in the doorway, the utmost surprise manifested on their faces. They had recognized Lord Hastings’ visitor.
Lord Hastings raised himself upon one elbow.
“Your Majesty,” he said, “allow me to present to you, Midshipman Frank Chadwick and Midshipman John Templeton, to whom Your Majesty, upon my request, was so good as to grant commissions only a short time ago. They have proven that Your Majesty has no braver officers in his entire navy!”
Both boys bowed very low, for Lord Hastings’ visitor was none other than George V., King of England.
The king smiled pleasantly.
“Lord Hastings, my cousin and good friend,” he said, “has spoken of your bravery in glowing terms. I know that he has not praised you too highly. Come, sirs, tell me, what do you think of life on the sea under the Lion of England?”
“There could be none better, Your Majesty,” replied Jack.