to him to offer the distinction of Trinity
without its cosmopolitan flavour, and a legal instead of an athletic
tradition. In due course he took as good a degree as he required, and
proceeded to be called at the English bar before returning to practice
in Melbourne. In connection with his university life he had two or three
original boasts: he had never been seen intoxicated, never played any
game, and only once investigated Fenner's (to watch the Australians). On
the other hand, he had added appreciably to his income by intelligent
betting on Newmarket course.

Temperament, character, and attainment seemed to have combined to
produce the perfect barrister in Theodore Bethune, who was infinitely
critical but himself impervious to criticism, while possessed of a
capital gift of insolence and a face of triple brass. The man, however,
was not so perfect; even the gentleman may exhibit certain flaws. Of
these one of his sisters had latterly become very conscious; but they
came out as a boon to her on the second evening of this visit to Eureka
Station, New South Wales.

For in conversation Bethune was what even he would formerly have called
"a terror," an epithet which he still endeavoured to deserve, though he
no longer made use of it himself. Captious, cocksure, omniscient, he
revelled in the uses of raillery and of repartee. Nothing pleased him
more than to combat the pet theories of persons whom he had no occasion
to conciliate. He could take any side on any question, as became the
profession he never ceased from practising. He destroyed illusions as
other men destroy game, and seldom made a new acquaintance without
securing a fair bag. Better traits were a playful fancy and an essential
geniality which suggested more of mischief than of malice in the real
man; the pose, however, was that of uncompromising and heartless critic
of every creature of his acquaintance, and every country in which he had
set foot.

The first night he had behaved very well. Moya had made him promise that
he would not be openly critical for twenty-four hours. He had kept his
word like a man and a martyr. The second night was different. Theodore
was unmuzzled. And both Moya and Rigden were thankful in their hearts.

Sir Oracle scarce knew where to begin. There were the turkeys which a
child could have hit with a pop-gun; there were the emus which the
Queen's Prizeman could not have brought down with his Lee-Metford. But
Theodore had discover