"I thought you would never come back," he said, impatiently. "I am sorry if I inconvenienced you, sir," Ben said. "I didn't know you wished me back early." "Come up stairs with me and pack. We are going to leave the hotel." "Where are we going?" asked Ben in surprise. "You will know very soon," answered the major. Major Grafton notified the clerk that he wished a hack in fifteen minutes, as he was about to leave the hotel. "Very well, major. Are you going to leave the city?" "Not at once. I may spend a few days at the house of a friend," answered Grafton, evasively. "Shall we forward any letters?" "No; I will call here for them." In fifteen minutes a porter called at the door of Major Grafton's room and took down the two trunks. A hack was in waiting. "Where to, sir?" asked the driver. "You may drive to the Windsor Hotel," was the answer. The Windsor Hotel, on Fifth avenue, is over two miles farther up town than the Metropolitan. Leaning back in his comfortable seat, Ben enjoyed the ride, and was pleased with the quiet, aristocratic appearance of the Windsor. A good suite of rooms was secured, and he found himself even more luxuriously accommodated than at the Metropolitan. "I wonder why we have changed our hotel," he thought. As if aware what was passing through his mind, Major Grafton said: "This hotel is much more conveniently located for my business than the other." "It seems a very nice hotel," said Ben. "There is none better in New York." "I wonder what his business is," passed through Ben's mind, but he was afraid of offending by the inquiry. Another thing puzzled him. He was ostensibly Major Grafton's private secretary, and as such was paid a liberal salary, but thus far he had not been called upon to render any service. There was nothing in this to complain of, to be sure. If Major Grafton chose to pay him for doing nothing, that was his lookout. Meanwhile he would be able to save up at least half of his salary, and transmit it to his mother. When they were fairly installed in their new home Major Grafton said: "I have a call to make, and shall be absent till late. I suppose you can take care of yourself?" "Oh, yes, sir. If there is anything you wish me to do----" "Not this evening. I have not got my affairs settled yet. That is all the better for you, as you can spend your time as you choose." About an hour later, as Ben was in the billiard-room, looking with interest at a game, his cousin, Clarence Plantagenet, and Percy Van Dyke entered. "How are you?" said Clarence, graciously. "Percy, this is my cousin, Ben Baker." "Glad to see you, I'm sure," said Percy. "Won't you join us in a little game?" "No, thank you," answered Ben. "I don't play billiards." "Then you ought to learn." "I thought you said you were staying at the Metropolitan," said Plantagenet. "So I was, but we have moved to the Windsor." "Have you a good room?" "Tip-top!" "Does that mean on the top floor?" asked Percy, laughing.