"Nicholas, be silent. I will listen to their story, and then you can have your say."
"If you are going to listen to them, I'll get out," stormed the runaway, and edged for the door.
"No, you don't; you'll stay here!" exclaimed Dave, and blocked the way. "I came all the way from America to catch you, and you are not going until I get through with you."
A brief war of words followed, which came to an end when the old gentleman locked the door. Then he had Dave and Roger tell their tale in full, after which he asked a number of questions. Nick Jasniff wanted to break into the conversation a number of times, but was not permitted to do so.
"Nicholas, if this is true, you are a young scoundrel, and I do not want you in my house another day!" exclaimed Philip Chesterfield. "I shall send a telegram to your father at once, asking him to come on."
"In Italy--he went there for his wife's health."
"Did Nicholas tell you anything about my folks?" went on Dave.
"Nothing excepting that he had met a Mr. Porter and his daughter, and that the father had sailed for Norway and the daughter for the States."
"Then that news must be true," said Roger. "Dave, the best thing you can do is to go to Christiania at once."
"You shan't do anything to me!" roared the runaway. "I won't stand for it."
"I shall notify the authorities in America where you are," answered Dave. "Then they can do as they please in the affair."
A little later Dave and Roger left the mansion, Philip Chesterfield bidding them a formal good-bye. Nick Jasniff was sullen and looked as if he wanted to kill both boys.
"He'll get back at us some day, if he can," observed the senator's son, as they drove back to Siddingate.
Arriving at the town, the two youths took the first train back to London proper. Here they found that to get to Christiania they would have to take a train to Hull and from there try to obtain passage on some vessel bound for the Norwegian capital.
"It's only a four hours' ride to Hull," said Dave, consulting a time-table. "I can get there to-night, if I wish."
"All right, let us take the first train."
"Do you want to go to Hull to see me off, Roger?"
"I am going with you--if you'll have me."
"They won't mind--so long as I keep out of trouble. I told father we might go further than England."