nced at his watch. The train was due at St. Pancras in an
hour. How slowly that hour dragged! Now that he knew this momentous
piece of news, Jack burned more fiercely than ever to be in the midst
of affairs and doing something to clear up this strange mystery which
had gathered about his father's name. At last, with a thrill of joy,
he heard the engine give its warning shriek as it ran into the big
station. He had brought nothing but a Gladstone bag with him, and he
had it in his hand, and the door of the carriage open, before the
train drew up. He made a leap at the first hansom, and shouted,
"Lincoln's Inn. Drive fast," and away he rattled into London streets.

There was a good cob in the shafts, and little time was lost on the
way. Jack paid the man double fare for the excellent speed he had
made, then bounded upstairs to the landing upon which Mr. Buxton's
chambers opened. In answer to his knock, a tall, thin man with a long
beard came to the door, and Jack gave a cry of joy. "You are at home,
then, Mr. Buxton. How glad I am! It has been my one terror that you
might be away in the country."

"No, Jack, I'm here," said Mr. Buxton, shaking hands. "I've been
expecting you every knock I've heard. I suppose you've seen the
papers."

"Yes," cried Jack, "I saw the _Daily Telegraph._ Are there any further
particulars in the others?"

"No," replied Mr. Buxton, leading the way into his sitting-room. "The
_Telegraph_ has as much as anyone."

"Have you heard anything? Do you know anything?" cried Jack eagerly.

"Nothing but what I've seen in the papers," replied the other. "I'm
altogether at sea. I can't fathom in the least what it all means. What
have you had?"

"Nothing but this cablegram," said the lad, and handed it over. Mr.
Buxton read it aloud slowly, and nodded. "From Risley," he said. "Of
course he wants to get you on the spot at once."

"I shall start without any delay," said Jack. "Isn't there a
boat-train to-night?"

"Yes," said Mr. Buxton, glancing at a clock on the mantelpiece, "but
there's plenty of time for that. Sit down and talk it over, and
besides, you must have something to eat."

He rang the bell and ordered the servant who answered it to set out a
meal in the adjoining apartment: he gave Jack a chair beside the fire,
and took one opposite to him and began to fill a pipe.

"Mr. Buxton," said Jack earnestly, "there's something out of the
common in this. My father has met with foul play. Before