"Step in, sah, and I will "form Mr. Percival," said the colored servant, in a consequential tone that amused Frank.
Frank stepped into the hall, but he was not left long without attention.
Little Freddie ran downstairs, eagerly calling out:
"Did you come to see me, Frank?"
"Yes," answered Frank, smiling; "but I came to see your grandfather, too."
"Come, and I will show you where he is," said the little boy, taking Frank"s hand.
The two went up the staircase and into a handsomely furnished room, made attractive by pictures and books.
In a large armchair sat a pleasant-looking elderly man, of about sixty.
"Grandpa," said the little boy, "this is Frank. He wants to see you."
Mr. Percival smiled.
"I am glad to see you, Frank," he said. "It seems, my boy, that you are already acquainted with my daughter and grandson."
"Yes, sir. I was fortunate enough to meet them to-day."
"You relieved my daughter from some embarra.s.sment."
"I am glad to have had the opportunity, sir."
Frank"s manner was easy and self-possessed, and it was evident that Mr.
Percival was favorably impressed by him.
"Take a seat," he said, "while I ask you a few questions."
Frank bowed and obeyed.
"Let me sit in your lap, Frank," said Freddie.
Our hero took the little boy in his lap.
With Freddie, it was certainly a case of friendship at first sight.
"Won"t he trouble you?" asked his grandfather.
"No, sir. I like young children."
Mr. Percival now proceeded to interrogate Frank.
"Your name is Frank Courtney. Have you been long in the city?"
"No, sir; only a few weeks."
"What led you to come here?"
"I wished to earn my living."
"What that necessary? You do not look like a poor boy."
"I was brought up to consider myself rich," said Frank.
"Indeed! Did you lose your property?"
"Perhaps I had better tell you how it happened, sir."
"If you don"t object, I should be glad to hear."
Frank gave a brief statement of his position, and the circ.u.mstances that led him to leave his home and go out into the world.
Mr. Percival listened thoughtfully.
"It is a singular story," he said, after a pause. "Your stepfather"s in Europe, then?"
"Yes, sir; at least he sailed for Europe."
"Have you heard from him?"
"No, sir."
"Do you expect to hear?"
"I think not."
"He can"t feel much interest in you."
"I don"t think he does," answered Frank. "Still, I can"t say that he has treated me unkindly."
"Do you suspect that your stepfather has wronged you in the matter of the property?"
"I would rather not answer that question, sir. I might wrong Mr.
Manning, and I have no proof to offer."
"I understand you, and I applaud your discretion. It does you credit.
Some time or other the mystery may be cleared up, and the wrong, if there is one, may be righted. I can"t understand, however, how this Mr.
Manning should be willing to leave you dependent upon your own exertions with such a scanty provision as twenty-five dollars a quarter."
"I didn"t ask for any more; and, besides, Mr. Manning offered to take me to Europe with his son Mark."
"Do you think that he was sincere in the offer?"
"I don"t think he expected me to accept it, and I am sure that it would have been very disagreeable to Mark to have me in the party."