Max obeyed. His preparations did not take long, and there was still a little time to spare before he needed to start; therefore he sought out Dale to say good-bye. "But you will come back, of course, Durend?" the erstwhile cox protested, rather struck by the earnestness of his friend's adieu. "I have a feeling that I shall not, Dale. I cannot help it, but I keep on acting almost unconsciously as though this were the last I shall see of Hawkesley." "Don't say that, Max. Why should you think your father is so ill as all that? The cablegram doesn't say so. No, I can't take that. You simply _must_ come back. There are lots of things we have promised to do together." "Can't help it, Dale. But there's one thing you must promise me before I go, and that is, that if I should not come back you will come over and see me. Spend a fortnight at our place at Liege in the summer--eh?" "You're coming back, old man," replied Dale with determination. "But all the same, I will give you the promise if you like. My uncle and aunt--all the relatives I have--would not mind, I know." "Thanks, old man--you shall have a good time." Presently Durend left, and in forty-eight hours he was back in his own home in Belgium on the outskirts of Liege. Prompt as he had been, he found he was too late, for his father had died at the time he was on the boat on the way to Antwerp. Though not altogether unexpected, the blow was a severe one to Max Durend. He had been very fond of his father, who had latterly treated him more as a chum than anything else, and had talked much to him of his plans for the time when he could assist him in his business. His mother was, of course, even more upset, and though Max and his sister, a girl of twelve, did their best to comfort her, she was quite prostrated for some days. It was now more than ever necessary that Max should enter his father's business, and, when old and experienced enough, endeavour to carry it on. From the nature of the business it was evident that this was no light task, and would require a great deal of training and an immense amount of hard work if it were to be done successfully. But the prospect of hard work did not appeal Max, and within a fortnight of his father's death he was busy learning the details of the vast business carried on under his name.