The latter two went off for a sight-seeing expedition alone, and a group of cadets also started on a “voyage of discovery” together. But Scott Clemmons separated from all the others, saying that he had friends to visit, and punctually at eight o’clock he entered the Astor House, the place of his appointment with Barney Breslin. New York is a large city, but yet people who are friends will run upon each other there in a most unaccountable manner. Two cadets were seated in the gentlemen’s parlor and saw Clemmons when he came along the hall. A moment after they saw him joined by Barney Breslin, and the two, after some parley, entered the dining room together. “Well, that looks friendly, Merrill.” “It certainly does, Perry,” was the answer. The appointment had been as faithfully kept by Barney Breslin as by Scott Clemmons. “Well, I have come,” said the latter. “You are wise,” was the reply. “What is it, now that I am here?” “I am hungry, and cannot talk upon an empty stomach. Come, let us have some dinner, and over it we can come to some understanding.” Clemmons frowned, but replied: “Do I understand that this is an invitation for me to dine with you?” “On the contrary, I am to dine with you, for I have not a dollar to my name.” “Well, as this is to be our last meeting, Breslin, I will honor you.” They entered the dining room together, and a good dinner with wine was ordered. “Now, what do you wish to say, Breslin?” asked Scott Clemmons, an hour after the dinner had been dispatched, Breslin eating with a degree of relish that showed he was, indeed, hungry, while Clemmons ate sparingly, seeming nervous and ill at ease. “I wish to go West and grow up with the country, or go to South America and get a berth there, and I need just one thousand dollars to go with,” said Breslin, rendered bolder by the wine he had drank. “Won’t your father give it to you?” “Not a dollar.” “Then I cannot see how you’ll get there.” “I can.” “How?” “You will give it to me,” was the almost threatening response. “You were never more mistaken in your life.” “Am I?” “You are.” “Then there is no need of further talk, for I can work my way to B----, and hold an interview with your father, who I believe will think it a small sum to stand between his son and----” “He will not give you a cent.” “Then I shall work my way back to Baltimore, tramp it, or beat the railroad, to Annapolis and see the commandant of the Naval Academy, and when I have had my interview with him somebody will find that they have made a mistake--that is all,” and Breslin arose to go. “Hold, Breslin, and be reasonable. Now I know you can make charges which you could not sustain; but I wish to avoid a suspicion, and I’ll give you all the money I have, but I cannot raise a thousand dollars.” “How much have you?” “Well, both of my parents have been liberal, as I was going upon a foreign cruise, and I have some six hundred dollars.” “I’ll take it, so hand it over.”