“It would not do,” said Frank firmly.
“And it does sound childish, my dear Fred,” said the doctor; “don’t you think so?”
“Of course it does,” replied the professor. “It would upset everything; but I’m so completely knocked off my balance that I don’t know what to propose. Yes, I do. Look here: I know. The poor fellow has been a prisoner for years, and looks old and thin, Frank says. Then we must send Ibrahim at once to tell him help is at hand, and put him out of his misery. No, no, no; that sounds like putting him out of his misery altogether. What do you think, Frank?”
“That we have been very careful so far, and have at last been thoroughly successful.”
“Yes, yes; of course,” cried the professor excitedly.
“Now we must be more cautious than ever.”
“Exactly; we must tell Ibrahim not to do the slightest thing to excite suspicion.”
“I am not going to trust Ibrahim to communicate with Hal,” said Frank decisively. “I must do this myself.”
“You?” cried the doctor in surprise; and the professor looked at him wonderingly.
“Why do you both stare at me like that?” said Frank warmly. “How is Ibrahim to get leave to speak to my brother?”