ho had posted notices of the entertainment. These parties arrived while
Philip was at breakfast.

"Gentlemen," said the landlord, "the boy is at breakfast. I think he is
all right, but I don't know. The professor, I fear, is a swindle."

"The boy is liable for our debts," said the agent. "He belongs to the
combination."

"I am afraid he is a victim as well as you," said the landlord. "He
seemed surprised to hear that the professor had gone out."

"It may all be put on. Perhaps he is in the plot, and is to meet the
old fraud at some place fixed upon, and divide the booty," suggested the
agent.

"The boy looks honest," said the landlord. "I like his appearance. We
will see what he has to say."

So when Philip had finished his breakfast he was summoned to the parlor,
where he met the creditors of the combination.

"These gentlemen," said the landlord, "have bills against you and the
professor. It makes no difference whether they receive pay from you or
him."

Poor Philip's heart sank within him.

"I was hoping Professor Riccabocca had settled your bills," he said.
"Please show them to me."

This was done with alacrity.

Philip found that they owed five dollars for the hall, five dollars
for advertising and printing, and one dollar for bill-posting--eleven
dollars in all.

"Mr. Gates," said our hero uneasily, to the landlord, "did Professor
Riccabocca say anything about coming back when he went out this
morning?"

"He told my clerk he would be back to breakfast," said the landlord;
adding, with a shrug of the shoulders: "That was two hours and a half
ago. He can't be very hungry."

"He didn't pay his bill, I suppose?"

"No, of course not. He had not given up his room."

Philip became more and more uneasy.

"Didn't you know anything about his going out?" asked the landlord.

"No, sir. I was fast asleep."

"Is the professor in the habit of taking long morning walks?"

"I don't know."

"That is strange, since you travel together," remarked the publisher.

"I never saw him till day before yesterday," said Philip.

The creditors looked at each other significantly. They began to suspect
that Philip also was a victim.

"Do you know how much money was received for tickets last evening?"

"About a hundred and fifty dollars."

"How much of this were you to receive?"

"Half of what was left after the bills were paid."

"Have you received it?" asked the agent.

"Not a cent," answered Philip.

"W