"Say I am indisposed," exclaimed Alfred; "desire my mother to make my excuses." "Yes, sir." "And John--where is my sister?" "Miss Van Hoosen is out, sir," replied the servant. Alfred put his arm in that of Jack and drew him out of the room. "Come," he said, "I will walk with you to your hotel. I want to talk to you on the way." They passed down-stairs and out into the street, Jack's only consolation for the news he had just heard, being the knowledge that the brother of the girl he loved was his friend. As they walked along, Alfred said: "I did not finish asking you all the questions I wanted to. What brought you and your friends over here?" "Frankly," answered Jack, "I came to see your sister. My friends came over to find buffaloes in New York." Alfred Van Hoosen burst into a roar of laughter. "Buffaloes in New York!" he said. "You surely are not serious." "Indeed I am." "Why, you might as well look for Indians on Staten Island. Is it possible that educated Englishmen, such as any friends of yours must be, can be so ignorant?" "The average Englishman," replied Jack, "knows about as much of America, as he does of Kamschatka." "Who are these friends of yours?" "You have seen them, when they called at the house during the time I was sick. There is Captain Cannon, Mr. Twinkle, Professor Mole and Harvey, though the latter is not as foolish as the rest." Alfred reflected a moment. "We will have some fun with them," he said. "Of course you can post Harvey." "How?" inquired Jack. "An uncle of mine, who is at one and the same time very rich and very eccentric, has a farm in New Jersey, not very far from New York, and his pet idea is to tame the buffalo and make him subservient to husbandry." "Has he any on his farm?" "A score or more. Uncle is away in Philadelphia. The farm is in charge of an old servant of the family, with whom I can do what I like." "What's your plan?" "I will invite your friends to a grand buffalo-hunt in New Jersey." "But your uncle!" "Never mind him; I am his favorite nephew and he has made his will in my favor." "He may revoke it." "Not he. The old boy loves a joke too well," replied Alfred. "Shall we do it?" "Willingly." "That is settled, then. I will make all my arrangements to-day, and if you will be good enough to invite your friends on my behalf, we will start early to-morrow." "So soon?" "Why delay? a little fun will relieve your mind." "But with regard to Maltravers?" "Leave him to me. I am your friend. You do not wholly understand the service you did me in riding my horse to win. You saved me from financial ruin, and made a friend of me for life." "Yet he will meet your sister. You will be away and your mother's influence may--" "Be easy, Harkaway. If I have any voice in the matter, he shall never marry Lena!" exclaimed Van Hoosen. "If--"