ps who run up a score with
a cabby. He owes me twenty quid now. Of course, I reckon he'll pay it,
for he told me he was a bit stiff, but that his friends would settle up,
so if you'll kindly hand over twenty sovs, I'll give yer a receipt,"
said Dick, quite unconcerned.

Hal and Reg were as much surprised at Dick's news, as at his manner of
imparting it.

"My time's money, so if you want to part up, I'll tell you what I'll do.
I ain' a hard one to chaps stuck. Give me a tenner, and we'll cry
quits."

"Where's Wyck now?" asked Hal, sharply, looking Dick straight in the
face, a gaze he did not approve of.

"He ain't far away, quite close handy; but what do you want to know
for?" asked Dick, in return, on the aggressive.

"Merely wished to look him up," said Hal.

"Oh! well, that alters the case. I thought you was after him to do him
an injury and, as he has been a good friend to me, I'll stick to him.
I'll tell yer what I'll do, gents. I'm a bit short, and will run the
risk of offending him, but if you plank down a fiver, I'll guarantee to
bring him here to-night."

"How can you do that, when he's in Tasmania?" said Reg.

"Who told you he'd gone there? Well, well; they was getting at yer. He's
not in Tasmania," answered Dick, putting on an innocent air. But finding
he had given himself away, he began to get into a rage.

"We'll have another drink, and bring this interview to a close. You can
drive us back to Collins Street, Dick."

Dick obeyed in a surly way, and when they pulled up at the Palace, Hal
asked him the damage.

"A sov.--and no humbug," was the reply.

"Your fare is two shillings," said Hal.

"It's a sov. or a summons, so please yourself," retorted Dick.

"I'll pay it you, but it's a swindle, and you know it, but, mark my
words, Dick, when swindlers swindle people, then it is time for people
to swindle swindlers," said Hal, handing him the money.

"Oh, go to the d--," said Dick, shortly, and whipping up his horse,
drove rapidly away. Terence appeared then on the scene, and received the
order to follow him and report.

"Come up as far as Menzie's Hotel, Reg," said Hal. "I have a little bit
of business to do there."

Off they go, but Reg is puzzled to find out what the business is, for
all Hal does is to call for drinks, take a sheet of paper from the rack,
and scribble a few words, put it in an envelope, and leave again.

Back in their room at the Palace, Hal explains the purpose of his vi