"I'll wait," he said. "I promise you shall regret those words before I am
through with you."

"And when do we start?" asked Chester.

"To-night; after dark. A special train will be ready for the Austrian
ambassador and his suite. You shall go with us. Of course the ambassador
shall know nothing of your presence, for he would not permit me to work
out a personal grudge in this way. I shall keep you out of his sight."

"The ambassador has been given his passports then?" asked Chester.

"He has, to Italy's sorrow. We shall wipe her off the map."

"Don't forget you have a pretty sizable job on your hands
already," said Hal.

Robard made no reply, but turning on his heel, strode from the room.




CHAPTER X.

VENICE.


As the boys had feared, they were given no opportunity to make a personal
appeal to the Austrian ambassador. All day long they were kept in their