out driving."

"What sort of a man is Dick Burton?" asked Reg, now speaking for the
first time.

"Well, sir, I don't like to say bad of any man if I could say good, but
Dick Burton is a bad egg, sir."

"What do you mean by a bad egg?"

"Well, as I said before, I don't--"

"Yes, we know all that."

"Well, sir, I don't like to say bad, I don't; but Dick ain't to be
trusted. He's been mixed up in several dirty jobs."

"That will do now, Terence. If you are careful and mind what you are
about, you will have a soft line. Your address is you say 470, Lonsdale
Street, West, so we know where to find you. Here are a couple of
sovereigns, and you are to keep a sharp look out on Dick for us.
Remember this," and he touched the revolver. "Good-day. There's the
lift."

"No, your honour, thank you. I've not got half-an-hour to waste; I'd
rather go down the steps, that'll only take five minutes," with that
Terence disappeared.

"We must enquire about Tasmania at once, Hal," said Reg.

On enquiry they found that there was no boat leaving for Tasmania for
several days, so they decided to spend the time in looking round to see
if they could come across Dick Burton and his grey horse.

They went off to the usual stand, but neither Terence nor Dick was
there, but turning, they found themselves in luck's way for once, for
they met the identical cab driving towards them. They hailed him, and
directed him to drive to Cumberland Hotel, Fitzroy.

Arriving there they engaged a private parlour, found up a boy to hold
the horse, and invited Dick in. The man's face and manner marked him as
all Terence described.

"What's the game, gents?" said he, "something good on?"

"I can't say there is anything particular on, but you shall be well paid
for your time, and will not be a loser," answered Hal.

"Quite right, gentlemen, but you ain't the sort to bring fellows like me
here for nothing, so again I asks, what's your game?" and Dick smiled
benignly at them, and noisily expectorated into the fire-place.

"You know a gentleman named Wyckliffe, I believe?"

"Yes, he does me the honour to ride in my cab."

"He's a friend of ours," continued Hal, "and to tell you the truth, he
is going it a bit strong; in fact, too strong for his income to stand
it."

"Never did it with me, sir. Fact was, he was rather mean, and often
barneyed over a few bob. I was jolly glad when he cleared, for he began
to be too familiar-like, and I don't like cha