WAS IT A MISTAKE?
Although the Greeks pursued them into the city, they made no attempt to
recover possession of Flavia.
What they did do, however, was something alarming.
At intervals they called to other men, friends or acquaintances, and
many of these joined them in following the girl and her escort. This
little band of dogged pursuers grew by ones and twos until there were in
all at least ten of them.
Professor Gunn’s agitation grew as the number of pursuers increased.
“Boys,” he said, “I sadly fear we are going to have grave trouble. It
would not surprise me if we were attacked and murdered right here in the
city of Athens. I am in favor of calling for protection by the ‘Agents
of Peace,’ as they call the police here.”
“Now, don’t you know, really I wouldn’t do that,” objected Sir Augustus
Camberwell. “Really I wouldn’t.”
“Why not, sir?”
“On account of the girl, don’t you understand! The blooming Agents of
Peace might ask us to explain what we are doing with the girl and why we
withheld her from her uncle, don’t you see! Don’t have anything to do
with the Greek bobbies. We have but a short distance farther to go—a
very short distance.”
So the Agents of Peace were not appealed to by them, and at last they
reached the hotel where Sir Augustus and Charles Cavendish were
stopping.
“I have to thank you very much for your gallant protection of Flavia,”
said Cavendish, again shaking hands with the boys and the old professor.
“She has explained fully how you risked your lives for her, as that
crazy fellow, her uncle wishes her to marry, drew a knife on you. It is
really wonderful that two boys and an old man should be able to stand
those two ruffians off.”
“Old man!” exploded the professor indignantly. “Who are you calling an
old man, sir? I would have you understand that I’m younger than lots of
men half my age.”
“No offense, professor,” Cavendish hastened to say. “You are indeed
remarkably young for your years.”
Zenas sniffed and hemmed in a manner that denoted he was not fully
pacified.
Both Cavendish and Sir Augustus seemed anxious to get rid of the
Americans.
Maro, Tyrus, and the rest of the pursuers had now disappeared, and,
therefore, Dick proposed that they should return to their hotel.
Not until they were far away and had failed to discover further signs of
their pursuers did Professor Gunn throw off his nervousness.
“I tell you, boys,” he said, “this has been a very serious affair—very.
Of course, we may yet have trouble over it. There is no telling. I can’t
understand why we were not attacked by that band of men who gathered to
follow us. It is certain that the Greek of to-day is not much like the
Greek of old. In ancient times we would have been overwhelmed and
slaughtered like dogs.”
Dick was silent and moody. He seemed thinking of something that was far
from pleasant. Even after they had reached their hotel and were in their
rooms he maintained an air of gloomy thought.
“Whatever is troubling you, pard?” questioned Brad, when the professor
had retired to his room.
“I am thinking of Flavia—poor Flavia,” answered Dick. “Her situation
bothers me, Brad. I almost fear we made a mistake to-day.”
“I’ve been thinking some that same way,” declared the Texan, springing
up and beginning to pace the floor with long strides. “I sure didn’t
like old Augustus any, and Cavendish didn’t hit me any too well. You
don’t suppose that young snipe is fooling that girl, do you, Dick?”
“That is a hard question to answer. There is something queer about this
affair. Flavia says Cavendish is going to take her to India, where her
father is; but still they met by accident on the Acropolis or near it.
If Cavendish was sent here by the father of Flavia, why didn’t he come
direct to the girl?”
“You tell!”
“Sir Augustus is an old rascal, and from his manner I inferred that he
held the idea that Cavendish is crooked. Brad, if we have been
instrumental in getting that beautiful girl into trouble, instead of
helping her out of trouble, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“What are we going to do, Dick?” asked the Texan, gravely.
“Perhaps it is our duty to go to the headquarters of the Agents of Peace
and tell all about it.”
“And get up to our necks in trouble, sure as shooting.”
“I suppose so. Sir Augustus must have influence, for he got Cavendish
out of the jug in a hurry.”
“Filthy lucre did it, partner. It will do almost anything in these days.
Somehow I opine that old Tyrus doesn’t rate very high in the family line
here, and it’s likely good coin would cause the authorities to wink at
an intrigue between a gay young Englishman and a girl of poor family.”
At this moment Professor Gunn came prancing back into the room, very
much excited in manner.
“I was sure of it!” he squawked, shaking a quivering finger in the air.
“I was sure I had heard of that old reprobate! I looked over my notes.
Boys, he’s a miserable old rounder! He’s a man with a bad record! He
ought to be in prison! He would be in prison if he had his just deserts!
He disgraced himself and his family in England! He left his own country
on account of his reputation. That’s the kind of man he is.”
“Who are you talking about?” asked Dick.
“Sir Augustus Camberwell,” answered the professor. “And he’s the friend
of Cavendish!”
“Now we know how the land lays, partner,” said Brad.
Dick rose to his feet, catching up his hat and light topcoat.
“Come, Buckhart,” he said grimly.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going out to get some air. I’m afraid we have been chumps of the
chumpiest variety.”
“I’m with you,” said the Texan.
“Boys, boys, boys!” spluttered the professor. “I hope you are not going
to do anything more that is rash. I can’t permit it. I must object. I
must put my foot down.”
“Don’t worry about us, professor,” said Dick. “I feel the need of a
brisk walk to cool off. My indignation is getting the better of me.”
Zenas hurried to the door.
“You shall not go until you promise me you will do nothing rash,” he
declared. “I shall not permit you to leave this room.”
Dick managed to appease and reassure him in a short time, and soon he
left the hotel, accompanied by his chum.
“What’s your plan, pard?” asked Brad, as soon as they were on the
street.
“I’m going direct to Cavendish and Camberwell,” said Dick. “Unless
Cavendish can satisfy me beyond the shadow of a doubt that his
intentions toward Flavia are perfectly honorable, I’ll denounce him to
the authorities, and push the matter against him, even if I go to jail
myself for it!”
“Whoop!” cried the Texan. “That’s the stuff! We’ll take to the warpath,
Dick, and there will be things doing in Athens. You hear me shout!”