ike."

"By all means. Now I think I'll go and take a little nap; I feel quite
worn out. When the Inspector arrives you will be able to explain all
that has happened; but I think I should ask him to keep a quiet tongue
in his head about the island. If it leaks out at all, it may warn them,
and they'll be off elsewhere--to a place perhaps where we may not be
able to find them."

"I'll remember," said Mr. Wetherell, and thereupon I retired to my room,
and, having partially undressed, threw myself upon my bed. In less than
two minutes I was fast asleep, never waking until the first gong sounded
for breakfast; then, after a good bath, which refreshed me wonderfully,
I dressed in my usual habiliments, and went downstairs. Mr. Wetherell
and the Marquis were in the dining-room, and when I entered both he and
the Marquis, who held a copy of the _Sydney Morning Herald_ in his hand,
seemed prodigiously excited.

"I say, Mr. Hatteras," said the latter (after I had said
"Good-morning"), "here's an advertisement which is evidently intended
for you!"

"What is it about?" I asked. "Who wants to advertise for me?"

"Read for yourself," said the Marquis, giving me the paper.

I took it, and glanced down the column to which he referred me until I
came to the following:--

"Richard Hatteras.--If this should meet the eye of Mr. Richard Hatteras,
of Thursday Island, Torres Straits, lately returned from England, and
believed to be now in Sydney; he is earnestly requested to call at the
office of Messrs. Dawson & Gladman, Solicitors, Castlereagh Street,
where he will hear of something to his advantage."

There could be no doubt at all that I was the person referred to; but
what could be the reason of it all? What was there that I could possibly
hear to my advantage, save news of Phyllis, and it would be most
unlikely that I would learn anything about the movements of the gang who
had abducted her from a firm of first-class solicitors such as I
understood Messrs. Dawson & Gladman to be. However, it was no use
wondering about it, so I dismissed the matter from my mind for the
present, and took my place at the table. In the middle of the meal the
butler left the room, in response to a ring at the front door. When he
returned, it was to inform me that a man was in the hall, who wished to
have a few moments' conversation with me. Asking Mr. Wetherell to excuse
me, I left the room.

In the hall I found a seedy-looking individual of about