d
circumstances. I have two rooms, and so have Clarke and another man. I
know there are two more vacant ones, for Franklin left for India last
week. We generally breakfast and dine with the Eltons (the people who
let the rooms), and we usually lunch outside."

"What do you say, Jack?" asked the doctor. "You are the one chiefly
concerned."

"It seems to be just the very thing, Doctor," Jack answered. "It is
close to the address of the crammer, and therefore suitable in that way.
Could we look at the rooms now, and come to a decision?"

Accordingly the vacant accommodation was inspected, and at once engaged.
A week later Jack had quite settled down, the doctor had returned home,
and work at the crammer's had begun.

Jack enjoyed the life. The allowance which he was entitled to draw was
a comfortable one, which enabled him to meet all his current expenses
and still find something in his pocket with which to pay for amusements.
His work usually kept him engaged from ten in the morning till four in
the afternoon, and every night except Saturday and Sunday he did a
couple of hours' reading.

Between tea-time and dinner-time he generally went for a long walk, as
to a boy of his habits constant exercise was essential. Sometimes he
would make his way along the Embankment and on past Chelsea, for the
river always had an attraction for him; while at other times he would go
in the opposite direction.

One Saturday evening, just after dark, he was slowly returning towards
Victoria, when a shrill whistle suddenly sounded in front of him,
followed by a loud shout. Rain was pouring down at the time, so that
the streets were practically deserted, while on the Embankment there was
not a soul about.

Again the shrill whistle sounded, followed by a shout, this time less
loud and decidedly muffled.

Jack's suspicions were at once aroused, and, dropping his umbrella, he
took to his heels and ran along the pavement. A few yards farther on
scuffling and the sound of heavy blows reached his ears, while, almost
at the same moment, a flickering gas lamp cast a feeble light across the
damp pavement, showing the base of Cleopatra's Needle, close to which
was a group of struggling figures.

A minute later Jack had reached the spot, to find that four roughs had
set upon two well-dressed gentlemen, one a man of some forty years of
age, while the younger was no older than himself.

As Jack reached them the latter was leaning half-