"I'll take this one," the lad said at length, and picked the one on the right.
"You win," said Lord Hastings quietly. "I'm the fellow that must remain behind."
Jack was equally as pleased as Frank, but he did not manifest the same enthusiasm.
"And what is it you expect us to learn, sir?" asked Jack. "I'm sure I haven't any idea."
"Nor I, sir," declared Frank.
Lord Hastings smiled.
"You see," he said, "it might have been better to let me go." Then he added after a brief pause: "I don't know that I had any particular plan in view. I was just going ashore and stroll about a bit. It is barely possible that one of you may overhear something. I wouldn't stay more than two hours at the most." He glanced at his watch. "Two o'clock now," he said. "I shall expect you back here at 4.30 at the latest."
The lads nodded.
"Will it be best for us to row ashore ourselves, sir?" asked Frank. "Or shall we have one of the men take us?"
"You would better go alone," replied Lord Hastings, after a moment's hesitation. "You can tie your boat up some place. I hardly think any one will bother it. A sailor might betray all of us unconsciously. In a game like this, the fewer the better is my motto."