"Right you are, boss," answered Terence, as he mounted the box, and
cracking his whip, drove them quickly to the stables.

"Drive right in, Terence," shouted Hal.

"Take that horse out and give him a good feed," said Reg to the groom in
charge as they alighted. "Now come along, Terence."

But Terence was too amazed to stir. All his Irish wit had left him, and
he did not feel certain his fare were not softies. He stood with his hat
in one hand and, scratching his head with the other, gazed blankly at
his horse being led away to the stable.

"Come on, Terence," called Hal again; but Terence did not appear
inclined to stir.

"I'll fix him, Hal," said Reg, going to the groom and paying for an
hour's feed in advance. This had the desired effect, and Terence
followed them without a word, but his perplexed thoughts ran thus:

"Now be jabers, by ould Oireland, here's a couple of queer coves. What
the divil are they up to at all, at all? Maybe it's information they'll
be wanting about Dick. Terence O'Flynn mind what you're up to--that's
what Biddy, the darlint, would say if she were here, and by jabers I'll
take her advice."

Hal and Reg in the meantime walked to the Palace, and calling Terence
in, took the lift to the fifth floor, and went to their room.

"Sit down, Terence," said Reg, pushing a chair forward.

"You mean straight, gentlemen, I hope, 'cos I have a big family, and
sure they'll all be kilt intirely should anything happen to me."

"Terence O'Flynn, we--"

"Begging your honours' pardon, the accent's on the--"

"Never mind the accent now, Terence. We mean business. We want you to
tell us all you know about Wyck and his cabby, Dick Burton. If you can
give us any particulars that will assist us, we will pay for the
information," said Hal, producing two or three sovereigns and jingling
them together.

As soon as Terence saw the sovereigns all his Irish avarice was roused.

"You want information," asked he.

"Yes, that's what we want, Terence," said Reg.

"Well then, how much are ye prepared to pay for it, for I may say the
information I can give is the rarest quality to be had anywhere at
double the price."

"That's your game, is it, my boy," said Hal, rising. "Now I'll pay you
what I think fit, and you'll take it and be satisfied, and no hanky
panky."

"Oh, beg pardon, your honour. I did not mean--"

"Never mind what you mean. Understand what I mean. In the first place
you will have to swear sec