FOILED.
Reg passed a restless night, turned himself out of bed early, and went
for a stroll in the Domain before breakfast. He was ill at ease and full
of self-reproach, for it seemed to him he had neglected his oath. He had
given himself up to the pleasure of the hour, while Wyck was still at
large. He blamed himself for believing rumours and not satisfying
himself of their truth, and altogether worked himself into a miserable
frame of mind.
After a hasty breakfast, he hurried round to the "Grosvenor," and asked
for Goody, and shewed him the telegram.
"That's funny, very funny," said Goody.
"Is that friend of yours here still?" asked Reg.
"No, he has gone to stay at Government House for a few days. He shewed
me a most pressing invitation."
"When was this, Mr. Goodchild?"
"Last night. He told me he knew a lot of the Governor's friends, and
that the Governor had asked him almost as a favour to go, as he
complained of being bored."
"Did he tell you this?"
"Yes, he seemed to sympathise with his friend."
"Poor devils, how badly we treat them," said Reg, with mock
commiseration.
"Now I don't agree with you there, Mr. Morris. I think we treat the
Governors right royally;" said Goody, mistaking his tone.
"You try to do so in your straightforward, honest way, and such are the
thanks you get for it. But good-bye for the present, I have some work to
do."
Reg hurried away to Blue Gums where he produced the telegram, which the
girls read with surprise. All agreed that nothing could be done until
Hal returned.
"You'll keep your appointment with Mrs. Montague," said Reg, rising to
go: "but you must excuse me. I want to look round."
"After Philamore?" asked Hil.
"He's staying at Government House."
"What!"
"So your father told me this morning."
"Then he can't be Wyck," said Hil, emphatically.
Meeting Hal on the arrival of his train, they drove together to their
hotel, to take up the thread of their abandoned plans. Hal told his
story:
"On my arrival, I went to the 'Royal' and saw Bill, who, of course, said
he knew nothing; but when I threatened to arrest him on a warrant he
changed his tone. He told me Wyck had called for his things on the day
before the flood, and then started for Sydney. Bill said he had
complained about the loss of a black stick, of which he knew nothing. I
wired to you, and caught the next train back."
"I expect Mr. and Mrs. Whyte. They arrived at Adelaide on Monday," said
Reg, handing him their telegram.
"What's become of Philamore?"
"Staying at Government House."
"We musn't lose sight of that chap."
"Oh, you remember old Joe Brown, who swore to Wyck's identity?"
"Yes; what about him?"
"I saw him here yesterday," said Reg. "I followed him, and he got into a
cab, with whom do you think?"
"Not Philamore?"
"Yes."
"Then that settles it. Well, now we will get the girls to call a meeting
at Blue Gums to-morrow. They must invite Mr. and Mrs. Montague, Goody
and ourselves; then we can compare notes, for we all must go to the
garden-party at Government House to-morrow afternoon."
Goody's tale to Reg was quite true. Fred Philamore had made the
acquaintance of the Governor, and had mentioned so many London friends
that were known to both, that His Excellency, finding him so
interesting, had invited him to Government House. This invitation he was
glad to accept, as he was still uneasy about his pursuers. The boys,
however, little guessed that all this while they were themselves being
watched: yet this was so, as the pseudo Fred Philamore had two retainers
on their track, who reported all their movements. Consequently he knew
all about Hal's journey to Toowoomba, and guessed its object. He was
engaged in forming a plan by means of which he could be revenged on
Morris, but as he did not consider the time was ripe to put it into
practice, he accepted the chance offered him by the Governor to enjoy
himself at the expense of the Colonial Government.
The next morning the party of seven interested in the doings of Villiers
Wyckliffe met at Blue Gums to discuss matters.
"Of course," said Hal, "we are only surmising that Philamore is our man.
We have no direct proof of his identity yet."
"When I last saw him he had dark hair and moustache," said May.
"Well a moustache is easily shaved off, and hair can be as easily dyed,"
said Reg.
"I suppose nobody noticed his hands, for he has a white scar on the
fore-finger of his right hand, plainly visible," said Mrs. Montague.
"Why, I noticed that only yesterday on Philamore's hand," said Goody.
"Then it is he," said Reg, excited. "Now how are we to get at him?"
"Leave that to me, old chap," answered Hal. "You've got your die ready;
you shall be executioner, I will bring him to the block."
"You are not really going to brand him?" put in Mrs. Montague.
"I am, indeed."
"Well, I can't say he does not deserve it," she added, stopped from
further remark by Reg's determined face.
"Well, it is understood that we all meet this afternoon at Government
House," said Hal. "We will now adjourn the meeting."
Hil and May had already refused the invitations to the party, but a
private note despatched to the Secretary had the desired effect, as that
gentleman held a very high opinion of Hil and her fortune.
Government House is a palatial residence, and situated in the midst of
lovely gardens. It was the height of the season, and a large number of
people were assembled in the grounds, including a good proportion of
mammas, each with a bevy of daughters. At the appointed time Hil's
carriage drove into the grounds, followed by a cab, and the occupants of
both were set down to be presented to His Excellency, who stood with a
forced, dignified smile on his face, and bowed to each visitor with the
accurate regularity of a machine. Close observers only would notice that
the smile was supercilious and the bow perfunctory. Both the girls and
boys, as a matter of form, passed before him and then wandered together
round the grounds. They did not wander far before they came across the
bishop's son, who was paying elaborate attention to the daughter of a
squatter who could count his sheep by millions. With ill-concealed
satisfaction, her fond mother watched her daughter's flirtation with one
of England's nobility, as she supposed him to be. Further on, they met
their man, evidently in the full swing of enjoyment. He was talking to a
young English lady with whom he was seated under a spreading eucalyptus,
and satirising colonial manners. The lady herself was on the look-out
for a colonial millionaire and often sighed to herself over the
disagreeable necessity that the millions could not be obtained without
the millionaire.
Seats had been placed on both sides of the tree, and Philamore and his
companion were quite unaware that the seat at their back was occupied,
until the former was startled by hearing a familiar voice say:
"It's Wyck for a certainty. We shall have to waylay him."
"It's a matter of time, Mr. Morris. Do not distress yourself so much.
We'll catch him before long."
Peering round, he saw May and Reg were the speakers, and a longing to
get out of the way seized him. He took the earliest opportunity of
excusing himself and calling a cab drove rapidly into the town, to the
same restaurant into which Reg had seen Joe disappear. He sent a boy in
to ask for Mr. Brown.
"Come and get up," he called out as Brown appeared. "You must get ready
at once, Brown, and do it to-night, for I am off by the express. They
have found me out. But, mind, no murder."
"Oh, no, just bruise and lame 'em a bit, eh!"
"Exactly, and don't let them catch sight of your face if you can help
it."
"I understand, boss."
"Now you can get out. Here's a tenner to go on with and I'll send you
another when I hear the job is done."
"All right, boss," said Brown, as he got down.
"Address George Thompson, P.O., Melbourne," shouted Philamore to him.
"Ay, ay. Good-night."
Philamore drove to the Imperial Hotel, and wrote a note to His
Excellency, saying he had been called away to Brisbane on important
business and promising to call on his return. The remainder of the time
left to him he devoted to preparations, and when the Melbourne train
left Sydney it carried an elderly man with grey hair.
Both the boys and the girls left the garden-party early, and on the
return of the former to their hotel, they found that a young woman had
been enquiring for Mr. Morris and had promised to call again. While they
were speculating as to whom this new visitor could be the lady herself
appeared. She had a sad tale to tell. She had been employed as barmaid
at a hotel, and had met Wyck and fallen in love with him, and after
arranging to be married, he had thrown her over.
"But why do you come to us?" asked Reg.
"I heard you were after him for a similar thing," she said, bursting
into tears.
"And where did you hear that?" said Hal.
"Well, my friend the housemaid at the 'Metropole' heard you talking
about Wyck, and she told me."
"What do you want us to do."
"I don't know, sir, but I thought you would like to know that he has
made an appointment with another girl in the 'Domain' at eight
to-night."
"Where's he to meet her?"
"I'll show you, sir."
"Look here, my girl," said the astute Hal, "you are not telling me the
truth."
"What do you mean, sir?" she asked, indignantly.
"Do you mind pulling the bell, Reg?"
"What for, Hal?"
"To send the waiter for a policeman. He will investigate this lady's
statement."
"Oh, don't do that, sir."
"Will you tell us who sent you here then?" said Hal.
"You'll not touch me if I do."
"Not if you tell the truth."
"Well, there were going to be several men behind the bushes, where I was
to take you, and they were going to thrash you."
"Who sent you here?"
"Mr. Brown gave me ten shillings to come."
"If you take my advice, you won't have anything more to do with Mr.
Brown. Now you can go," and Hal dismissed her.
"A very clumsy plot indeed, Mr. Wyckliffe, very clumsy! You must be
losing your wit," said Hal, smiling.
The next morning, Reg amused himself by reading the sarcastic account in
the _Bulletin_, of the doings at Government House, which were served up
in the spicy style of that journal, and to his astonishment the account
wound up with the astounding statement that Mr. Philamore had left for
Brisbane.
As Hal read the paragraph aloud, he looked at Reg whose face seemed to
contract with rage, he caught Hal's glance, and then both turned away in
silence to engage in their own thoughts.