Frank's place was laid, in accordance with the instructions he had given his landlady last night, and he had not the heart to push the things aside.

There were soles for two, and four boiled eggs; there was coffee and marmalade and toast and rolls and fruit; and the comfortable appearance of the table simply mocked him.
He had had very confused ideas just now as to what was possible with regard to the pursuit of Frank; a general vision of twenty motor-cars, each with a keen-eyed chauffeur and an observant policeman, was all that had presented itself to his imagination; but he had begun to realize by now that you cannot, after all, abduct a young man who has committed no crime, and carry him back unwillingly, even to Cambridge! Neither the Dean of Trinity nor a father possesses quite unlimited power over the freedom of a pupil and a son.

And, after all, Frank had only taken his father at his word! These reflections, however, did not improve the situation.

He felt quite certain, in theory, that something more could be done than feebly to send another telegram or two; the only difficulty was to identify that something.

He had vague ideas, himself, of hiring a motor-car by the day, and proceeding to scour the country round Cambridge.