about her
to see all was clear. A few minutes later a boy appeared carrying a
telegram in his hand.

Walking on the opposite side of the street as far as King William
Street, they shadowed him, and crossing the road walked close in his
rear. As the lad stopped at the office, he opened the telegram, and
looked at it. Hal at the same time glanced over his shoulder, and read:

V. Wyckliffe, Great Australian Palace, Melbourne. Morris and
another called for you to-day. Going Melbourne. Look out. G----y.

"Hal, you're a wonder," said Reg when he became acquainted with the
contents of the telegram.

"I reckon we're getting close on him now. He will only have three days'
start of us," said Hal, complacently. "The guide says--'Express to
Melbourne at 3.30., arriving at 10.30 next morning: boudoir car
attached.'"

"Let's fill up the time by going to a music-hall," suggested Reg.

"Don't keep them here, my boy."

"What, no music-halls!"

"Well there is a small one run by Tommy Hudson, but it is used as a
theatre. Adelaide people don't believe in leg-shows and ballets."

"But I thought they had the Gaiety people out here, and did a big
business."

"Quite true, but it caused such an extra-ordinary number of divorce and
breach of promise cases that they have not repeated it."

"Have they a decent theatre, then?"

"Yes, a capital one, run by good old Wybert Reeve, and as the Governor
goes there to-night, there will be an extra crush."

"Does he influence the public?"

"Rather, my boy. I have seen the stalls and dress-circle quite empty one
night and crowded the next to overflowing, all on account of the
presence of the Governor and his wife."

"Then we had better not rob them of their enjoyment," said Reg,
emphatically.

They spent the following morning in visiting the sights of Adelaide,
that picturesquely placed and beautifully laid-out city, nestling by the
_broad waters_ (_!_) of the Torrens, beneath its background of lofty
blue mountains; and took the afternoon express to Melbourne.

CHAPTER IX.

MELBOURNE.

After passing a somewhat restless night in the boudoir car they arrived
at Melbourne. Boudoir cars are very comfortable and pleasant places in
their way, but on this particular occasion they did not find it
overwhelmingly pleasant, for their fellow-passengers had their own
peculiar way of amusing themselves. For instance, a Melbournite and a
Sydneyite had to share the same compartme