"I was brought up to consider myself rich," said Frank.
"Indeed! Did you lose your property?"
"Perhaps I had better tell you how it happened, sir."
"If you don't object, I should be glad to hear."
Frank gave a brief statement of his position, and the circumstances that led him to leave his home and go out into the world.
Mr. Percival listened thoughtfully.
"It is a singular story," he said, after a pause. "Your stepfather's in Europe, then?"
"Yes, sir; at least he sailed for Europe."
"Have you heard from him?"
"No, sir."