"I"ll tell you what it is. I fancy that red-headed gentleman either knows something, or is not exactly what he professes to be."
"We"ll wait until we hear from Hal, before doing anything further," said Reg.
"Yes, it would be just as well. But you will stay for dinner, as Mr.
Goodchild and some Tasmanian friends are coming to-night."
Reg did not refuse, needless to say. On his return to his hotel he found two telegrams and a letter waiting for him. Opening one of the telegrams, he read:
"Toowoomba. Wyck called here day before flood. Left for Sydney.--Hal."
The other read:
"Albany, W.A. Self and wife arrive Adelaide Monday. Wire address.--Whyte."
The letter contained a cheque for 150, with the photo of Mr. and Mrs.
Montague enclosed, on the back of which was written:--"May G.o.d bless and prosper Reginald Morris is the earnest prayer of the originals!"
CHAPTER XXVII.
FOILED.
Reg pa.s.sed 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 ident.i.ty?"
"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 ident.i.ty 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.