“And I am glad you did,” returned Lord Hastings.  “Come, tell me something about yourselves.  So you were in at the finish, eh?”

“You bet!” exclaimed Frank enthusiastically.  “You should have been there, sir.”

“I was,” replied Lord Hastings.

“You were, sir?”

“Yes.”

“But we didn’t see you, sir,” said Jack.

“I know you didn’t.  But I saw you.  And I saw Frank when he inspected the submarines on the first day of the surrender.”

“Where were you, sir?” demanded Frank.

“Aboard the Queen Elizabeth.  I viewed the surrender as the guest of Admiral Beatty, and their majesties.”

For some time the conversation dealt only with the surrender of the fleet.  Then Lord Hastings said: 

“Well, boys, the war is over.  What do you intend to do now?”

“I know what I shall do, sir,” said Frank.

“Well, let’s hear it.”

“I shall return to America as soon as I am able to procure my discharge.”

“As I thought,” said Lord Hastings.  “And you, Jack?”

“I hardly know, sir.  I have no relatives, few friends.  There is no one dependent on me, and I am dependent on no one.  It strikes me, sir, that the navy might be a good place to stick.”

“And I had expected that, too,” said Lord Hastings quietly.  “But I don’t agree with you, Jack.”

“Why not, sir?” asked Jack, in some surprise.

“In the first place,” said Lord Hastings, “the life would begin to pall on you when it settled down to dull routine.  Now in active service, of course, it’s different.  I know, because I’ve tried both.  No, my advice to you Jack, is to get out of the navy.”

“But what shall I do, sir?”

“There are many things,” said Lord Hastings quietly.  “There is the consular service, the diplomatic service.  Who knows how far you may rise?  Already you have made a name for yourself and have won distinction.  You may go far, if you apply yourself.”

“That’s true, too, sir,” said Jack.  “I have thought of that, at odd moments.  But I guess you are right about the navy, sir.”

“I know I am.  And the sooner you get out of it the better.”

“Then I’ll take your advice, sir.  But I’m afraid it won’t be possible to get a discharge for some time yet.”

“It will be much simpler that you think, for both of you,” said Lord Hastings with a smile.  “I still have some influence, you know, and I shall see you receive your discharges within a fortnight, if you wish.”

“Hurray!” shouted Frank.  “That suits me.  There is no use sticking in the navy now.  There is nothing to do.”

“And,” continued Lord Hastings to Jack.  “In the meantime I’ll look around and see what I can turn up for you, Jack.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Jack.

“And in the meantime, Jack,” added Frank, “you are going home with me for a visit.  That is, as soon as we get our discharges.”