"The first thing," said Lord Hastings, "if I may make so bold, your Majesty, is to recapture Count Blowinski before he can do any more damage." "No small job," said the Czar. "Perhaps not," agreed Lord Hastings. "Still it can be done." "What would you suggest. My Lord?" "My plan is a very simple one," said Lord Hastings, "and yet it means lots of work." "Let's have it," said the Czar eagerly. "Scour the city," said Lord Hastings. "Put every available man to work and search the town, every nook and corner of it. Eventually you are bound to catch him. He must be in the city still and it will be only a question of time until some of your men come upon him." "It's a big job," said the Czar meditatively. "And the sooner it is started the sooner the count will be taken," said Lord Hastings dryly. "True," returned the Czar briefly. "If you will leave me now, My Lord, I shall set the wheels in motion at once." Lord Hastings bowed, as did Jack. As they would have passed out of the Czar's presence, the latter exclaimed: "Pray extend my condolences to your wounded second officer, My Lord. Tell him how sorry I am that he should have been injured in my service." "It shall be done, your Majesty," replied Lord Hastings. A moment later the commander of the D-17 and his first officer were in the street. "Where now, sir?" asked Jack. "To the hospital, to see how Frank is getting on," replied Lord Hastings. They turned their steps in that direction. When Jack had returned to Frank after his futile chase of Count Blowinski, he found his friend trying to sit up, and groaning feebly. Jack hurried to his side and raised Frank's head to his knee. An examination showed him that the back of his chum's head had been badly cut by coming in contact with the sharp table edge as he had fallen. The wound was an ugly one and Jack was much concerned. But Frank would not hear of Jack carrying him away until he had also looked after the stranger who had so kindly come to their assistance. Jack did this and found that the man was not badly hurt. After the lad had sprinkled a little water over his face, he revived, sat up and directly got to his feet. Then he lent a helping hand in carrying Frank to the street. Here Jack stood guard while the man summoned an ambulance. Jack climbed in the ambulance with his wounded chum and went to the hospital. The stranger declined to go along and took his departure. At the hospital, Jack saw his friend made comfortable, learned from the attending physician that the wound was not dangerous, and then hastened to report to Lord Hastings. Lord Hastings was much put out to learn that Frank had been hurt and he upbraided Jack for putting their lives in jeopardy. Nevertheless, he realized the gravity of the fact that Count Blowinski was again at large and had hurriedly sought an audience with the Czar, where we found the two British officers at the opening of this chapter.