atter."

* * * * *

Jack wheeled and went out of the room.

* * * * *

It was a miserable breakfast to which he sat down half an hour
later--still in flannels, and without his bath. Frank's place was laid,
in accordance with the instructions he had given his landlady last
night, and he had not the heart to push the things aside. There were
soles for two, and four boiled eggs; there was coffee and marmalade and
toast and rolls and fruit; and the comfortable appearance of the table
simply mocked him.

He had had very confused ideas just now as to what was possible with
regard to the pursuit of Frank; a general vision of twenty motor-cars,
each with a keen-eyed chauffeur and an observant policeman, was all
that had presented itself to his imagination; but he had begun to
realize by now that you cannot, after all, abduct a young man who has
committed no crime, and carry him back unwillingly, even to Cambridge!
Neither the Dean of Trinity nor a father possesses quite unlimited power
over the freedom of a pupil and a son. And, after all, Frank had only
taken his father at his word!

These reflections, however, did not improve the situation. He felt quite
certain, in theory, that something more could be done than feebly to
send another telegram or two; the only difficulty was to identify that
something. He had vague ideas, himself, of hiring a motor-car by the
day, and proceeding to scour the country round Cambridge. But even this
did not stand scrutiny. If he had failed to persuade Frank to remain in
Cambridge, it was improbable that he could succeed in persuading him to
return--even if he found him. About eight important roads run out of
Cambridge, and he had not a glimmer of an idea as to which of these he
had taken. It was possible, even, that he had not taken any of them, and
was walking across country. That would be quite characteristic of Frank.

* * * * *

He finished breakfast dismally, and blew through an empty pipe, staring
lackadaisically out of the window at the wall of Sidney Sussex for two
or three minutes before lighting up. Cambridge seemed an extraordinary
flat and stupid place now that Frank was no longer within it. Really
there was nothing particular to do. It had become almost a regular
engagement for him to step round to the Great Court about eleven, and
see what was to be done. Sometimes Frank wanted law