de to meet them."

"If you should hear from him, you might say Mr. Thompson was asking for
him," said Hal, carelessly.

"How long are you staying, sir?"

"That all depends how we like the place," said Hal, as he left, followed
by Reg.

"That girl is in it. I'll swear she knows where he is.--Query, how are
we to get it out of her?"

"Where did those gentlemen come from?" asked the lady, of the porter.

"Adelaide express, miss," he answered.

"Are you sure?"

"Certain, miss, for I noticed the ticket on their luggage."

"I fancy they will have to look for him," she said to herself, smiling
grimly.

Hal and Reg had walked as far as Bourke Street, when Hal suddenly turned
to his companion and said:

"What fools we are, Reg. That wire was sent late at night, addressed to
the Palace. We must find out who was on duty at that hour, for that girl
surely would not be." Thereupon they wheeled round, and returned to the
Palace.

"Say, porter; do you keep a night-porter here?" asked Hal, of the man in
livery hanging about the hall.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you know who was on duty the night before last?"

"I was, sir."

"Do you remember a telegram arriving for Mr. Wyckliffe?"

"Well, er, you see, sir--"

"I do see," said Hal, and, by a dexterous move, a half-crown-piece
changed hands.

"Thomas' buildings are not far from here, sir. I'll shew you if you just
step to the door," said the porter, leading the way to the street as he
noticed the girl's eyes on him.

"Enquire at the Gaiety, Bourke Street," he whispered, and hurriedly
withdrew, the happy possessor now of two half-crowns.

"What did those gentlemen want?" asked the lady, when the porter
returned.

"They only wanted to know where Thomas' Buildings was, miss."

"Oh, all right," said she, apparently satisfied.

Hal and Reg lost no time in following up the clue given them, and a
quarter of an hour later found them in one of the many saloons of the
Gaiety Hotel, where they began to take stock of their surroundings. Both
agreed that it had been well-named. Business seemed brisk, and
liveliness and gaiety characterised everybody. They happed to have hit
upon the same saloon that Wyck patronised. Had Hal known this he would
perhaps have been more careful. Two young ladies were in attendance. One
of a very winning appearance; the other rather plain.

"Have you seen Wyck lately?" asked Hal, of the pretty one.

"No, he's gone," said she, colouring to the roo