Jack clapped a hand to his coat pocket.
"By George! I had forgotten all about them," he said.
"So I imagined. But it is my guess that the navy department still wishes those papers delivered."
"You're right, sir. Here, I'll turn them over to you, sir."
Lord Hastings waved the packet away.
"Keep them," he said quietly.
"But—" Jack began.
"Great Scott," Frank put in at this juncture, "you must be getting denser every day, Jack."
Jack wheeled on his chum.
"What do you mean?" he asked.