"He had no right to speculate with my mother's money," said Robert, indignantly.
"You are right there. He should have invested it securely."
"Mr. Paine," said Robert, after a pause, "I have an idea that father is still living, and that some day I shall find him."
The lawyer shook his head.
"There is not one chance in ten that he is living," he said. "It is only a fancy of yours."
"It may be, but I can't get it out of my head."
"I hope you will prove correct, but I need not tell you of the many arguments against such a theory."
"I know them all, but still I believe he is living. Mr. Paine," continued Robert, earnestly, "I feel so strongly on the subject that, with my mother's permission, I, mean to go out into the world in search of him."
"I must say, Robert," said Mr. Paine, "I did not expect such a visionary scheme from a boy of your good sense. You must see yourself how wild it is."
"I know it," said our hero; "but I want to take a year, at any rate, to see the world. If, at the end of that time, I discover no trace of my father, I will come home content."