"No, uncle," Fred said, "I have, I am sorry to say, been sent to tell you that Frank last night left his boarding-house and is not to be found."
Captain Bayley leapt from his seat in great wrath.
"The fool! the idiot! to run away like a coward instead of facing it out; and not a line or a message has he sent to me. Did you know, sir, that your cousin was going to run away?"
Fred hesitated.
"Yes, uncle, I knew that he was going, and did my best to dissuade him, but it was useless."
Captain Bayley walked up and down the room with quick steps, uttering exclamations testifying his anger and annoyance.
"Has he got any money?" he said suddenly, halting before Fred. "Did he get any money from you?"
Fred hesitated again, and then said.
"Well, uncle, since you insist upon knowing, I did let him have twenty pounds which I got for the sale of my books."
"I believe, sir," the old officer said furiously, "that you encouraged him in this step, a step which I consider fatal to him."