for they were nearing Melbourne; and soon the train ran in to
Spencer Street Station.

Here all was noise and hurly-burly. Porters jostled the passengers and
each other, and flung the luggage about. Cabbies yelled for fares, and
everyone seemed bent on making as much noise and causing as much
inconvenience as possible.

"Thank goodness, that's over," said Reg, when they had safely put
themselves in a hansom. "Talk about London porters. They are not a patch
on these fellows for banging your things about."

"That's true. In Melbourne, old man, everything must go with a rush,"
answered Hal, as the cab pulled up at the entrance to a tremendous
building, some eight stories high.

"Fine place this, Hal."

"Yes, as far as appearances go. It's run on temperance principles, at a
heavy loss every year."

"Who built it then?"

"There's his face on the wall there, somewhere. He's in gaol now, went
with the land-boom when it bust."

"That's why they put his bust up," laughed Reg, dodging the portmanteau
that was flung at him for his atrocious pun.

They booked their rooms on the advance system at the office, and started
for a stroll round the streets of this marvellous city.

"By Jove, Hal," said Reg, pointing to a tall building known as a
sky-scraper; "thirteen stories high. Is the man who built that doing a
term too?"

"No he was too smart. He sold out and got knighted."

"Knighted for building a place like that?"

"Well you see he gave a big cheque to charity, and got it that way."

"Are they as easy to get as that?"

"Rather. One man built a university, and was given a handle to his name.
England loves to encourage that sort of thing. But now to business. I
noticed that girl at the Palace eye us pretty closely."

"We had better enquire, and see if we can hear of anything."

"Time is precious. Let's get back."

"Do you keep a record of all visitors staying here?" asked Hal of the
young lady at the booking office.

"Yes, sir. What name are you enquiring for?"

"A friend of mine named Wyckliffe. Ah, I see you know him"--for he
noticed the lady give a start of surprise.

"There was a gentleman of that name here, but he has gone to Adelaide,"
she answered, in rather a tremulous voice.

"Oh! it doesn't matter. He asked me to enquire for him, if I came to
Melbourne. We have just arrived from Sydney."

"What a shame," said she, quite recovered. "He was expecting some
friends, and said he was going to Adelai