"Looking at the big wigs, eh?"
The boys turned.
Behind them stood old Tom. The boys greeted him warmly.
"Coming down the street? I want to buy a few gim-cracks for the kids at home."
The lads shook their heads. For reasons of their own they were anxious to remain about the hotel till they caught a further glimpse of the two red-faced men.
"I'll meet you here in half an hour then," suggested old Tom.
And so it was agreed. The old man-o'-warsman hurried off and left the boys standing behind one of the big palms, with which the veranda was decorated, discussing in low tones their next move.
But, as things turned out, it was not left to the boys to determine their actions of the immediate future.
A door leading from the banquet-room suddenly opened, and through their leafy screen the boys spied the two red-faced men emerge. They were accompanied by a tall, distinguished-looking man, who wore a Van Dyke beard and was garbed in evening dress. He was smoking a cigar.