In his hurry to leave England and reach the United States, Fenella’s husband had neglected to arm himself with letters of introduction, and now he found the disadvantage of being in a strange city without a friend. He walked down Broadway, and paraded Fifth Avenue, but saw none but unfamiliar faces. He had put up at one of the large New York hotels, where he had advisedly given a false name. He was not particularly anxious to make the acquaintance of the American interviewer, a gentleman who was unique until copied in England some few years ago. So far he had been able to preserve his incognito, as the police official, who was a kind fellow at heart, had promised to preserve the secret of his identity. So, chafing at the delay, he wandered about listlessly, until, to his great delight, he received one evening a summons to attend at the bureau. “You see I have not forgotten you,” said the official. “Now I think we can set to work. The boy you have been looking for has left the custody of the colonel--he is no longer in his care.” “And where is he?” asked Frank eagerly. “That is a conundrum, my lord, that, for the moment, I cannot answer,” was the reply. “The fact is, we have made a bit of a mess of it. A recruit--a sharp one, but still a recruit--was put upon your business, and he seems to have muddled it.” “What do you mean?” “Well, look you here. He was ordered to keep his eye on the lad, and to report when the boy was removed from the colonel’s custody. Well, he did his duty, inasmuch as he gave us the notice the boy was off. That has been reported right enough, but----” he stopped. “Don’t you know where my son is at this moment?” said Frank angrily. “Well, sir--I should say, my lord--that is exactly what I cannot say. Our man rushed off to tell us the news of departure; he would have done better had he followed up the track.” “And what do you propose to do?” “Oh, we have made the best of it. We have sent a first-class officer, up to every move in the game, to take the matter up, and by this time you may be sure the country is being scoured high and low. When we come upon a track you shall hear of it. We can trust the colonel. He is respected, and would not lend himself to any underhand piece of work. But it’s the lady that is doing it. Now, we have not much of an opinion about her, and she is in it, that’s the worst of it. However, don’t you cry out yet; ours is the smartest service in the world, and we will do our best for you.” “But can I do nothing?” “Well, no, sir--I should say, my lord--I don’t see that you can. You had better look in to-morrow evening, and then I could report progress. In the meanwhile, keep an eye upon yourself. New York is a dangerous place for a stranger. I know you Englishmen are brave fellows, but such a thing as kidnaping, even an adult, is not unknown on this side of the Atlantic. So have a care, sir--I should say, my lord.”