promenaded the deck, smoking and
chatting.

"Why did you say it was dangerous to mention lords in disguise here?"
said Reg.

"Oh, I'll tell you," said Hal. "You see, last year Tasmania was very
short of visitors. Now, there was a barber in Sydney whose business was
bad, so he decided to boom Tasmania. He assumed the name of a bogus
viscount and, leaving his wife and children behind, went for a holiday
with a young lady of the theatre. Of course, the good news that a
viscount and viscountess were on their way to Tasmania soon spread, and
great preparations were made for their arrival. They were invited
everywhere to all the aristocratic places, and were made no end of.
Well, to make a long story short, the game was exposed by means of the
deserted wife applying for maintenance. The barber is now in gaol."

"But surely his manners must have shewn him up?"

"I'll give you, in answer, the opinion of an old resident who met them.
He said he and his missus liked that viscount because he put on no side,
and talked and laughed in such a way that they felt quite at home with
him. I must add that this gentleman was absent for a trip when the trial
was on."

The boat was now coming alongside the Pier at Launceston, the pretty
little capital of Northern Tasmania, nestling cosily at the foot of its
surrounding hills. Landing, they went at once to the Brisbane Hotel.

"Launceston is small in comparison with Melbourne," said Hal, "and,
being only twenty hours' distance by steamer, it naturally endeavours to
copy her in many ways: certainly the business people have a touch of
Melbourne in their ways, and they are as proud of their muddy little
river, as Adelaide is of her lake."

They both lost no time in proceeding on the war-path, and immediately
commenced on the hotels which kept saloons. The number was not large,
but to their surprise they could not find the slightest trace of Wyck.

"Perhaps he is going for higher game," said Reg, as they walked down
Brisbane Street, struck, as every visitor is, with the overwhelming
extent to which female beauty was represented there.

"He is probably still devoting himself to Miss Goodchild, but I do not
think he would have much chance, as her father would not let him come
near the place."

"My dear fellow," answered Reg, sadly, "Whyte forbade Amy to see him,
and yet she went."

As they continued their walk, Hal made the following comments, as was
his wont:

"Tasmanian people ar