hurry that I dared not "pop the
question" as to the whereabouts of Hawk Street again, but made my way
back once more to the entrance. By this time I was so muddled that for
the life of me I could not tell which was the street I had come down,
still less how I could get back to it.

Ask my way I must, if I died for it! Ten o'clock had struck ten minutes
ago, and I was due at Merrett, Barnacle, and Company's at 10:15.

I noticed a boy ahead of me walking rather more slowly than the rest. I
would ask him, and stick to him till he put me right. So I made up to
him boldly.

"Will you show me the way to Hawk Street, please?" I said, as I came
up.

He turned round suddenly as I spoke. Was it possible? Here, in London,
where one might as soon expect to meet a body one knows as meet the man
in the moon!

It was my friend Smith!

"Jack!" I exclaimed.

"Fred!" exclaimed Smith, seizing my hand.

There was no doubt about it, and no doubt about all my foolish
suspicions as to his having forgotten me or ceased to care for me being
groundless. His solemn face lit up almost to a look of jubilation as he
grasped my hand and said, "Why, Fred, old man, whatever are you doing
here?"

"What are _you_ doing?" cried I. "Who ever would have thought of
running up against you in this place? But I say," said I, suddenly
remembering the time. "I have got to be in Hawk Street in two minutes,
Jack. For goodness' sake, show us the way, if you know it."

Smith opened his black eyes very wide.

"You have to be somewhere in Hawk Street?" he asked.

"Yes. Merrett, Barnacle, and Company's the name. I'm after a place
they have got there."

Smith's face passed through a variety of expressions, ending in the old
solemn look as he quietly said, "So am I."

"You!" I exclaimed. "You after the same place? Oh, Jack!"

"I'm awfully sorry," said he. "I didn't know--"

"Oh, it's not that," I interrupted, "at all. I wish they had two
places, though."

"So do I. Perhaps they have. But I say, you'd better look sharp."

"Aren't you coming too?" I said.

"I haven't to be there till 10:30. They'll see you first."

At that moment a clock chimed the quarter, and startled me nearly out of
my wits.

"That's the time," cried I. "Where _ever_ is Hawk Street, Jack?"

"This is it we're in, and that's the place over the way. Merrett's is
on the first-floor."

"Be sure you wait outside for me," said I, preparing to dart over.