her. It
was enough. There was no trait in her nature to lead her to repine; it
was entirely controlled by a dominant desire to punish the traitor. Hal
could scarcely believe that this stern, resolute woman was the same
woe-begone inanimate girl he had interviewed. She examined the letter
carefully, noting its date and post-mark, and putting it into her
pocket, said:

"I will keep this letter, Mr. Morris."

"I do not want it," said Reg. "Pray please yourself."

"I must apologise for my rudeness," she said, simply. "But you must
allow I should not be the woman I am if under the original circumstances
I had not defended the absent. Now all is changed; you have convinced me
of his duplicity, and gentlemen"--here she held out one hand
appealingly, and tears welled in her eyes--"an Australian girl thanks
you with her whole heart for saving what is her most precious
possession. By your help I have been able to free myself from a spell
that bound me hand and foot. You have opened my eyes, and believe me,
you will not find me ungrateful. Now, one more favour; will you kindly
send for my father at once."

"We will wire at once," said Hal, leaving the room with his friend.

They despatched the message, and started for a stroll in the open air.

"Reg," said Hal, "you are improving. By what lucky chance did you get
hold of that letter?"

"I am afraid it was hardly justifiable, but things were desperate," he
said. "You see, when you and the girl went upstairs, I felt that your
impetuous nature might have let you overlook the fact that we had no
proofs against Wyck, so I determined to lay hands on some of his
letters, and use them against him. By means of a little steaming I
opened three; two were invitations, the third, which you have heard
read, answered my requirements."

"Then you knew its contents all the time?"

"Of course, or I should not have presented it."

"Well, it has done our business for us," said Hal, satisfied.

"Yes, and Wyck has a dangerous customer to meet should he cross her path
again. Her nature is of different construction to my Amy's, for she has
strength and determination to shake herself free, and to turn the
strength of her love into bitter hatred, whereas my poor girl
succumbed."

CHAPTER XVI.

HOBART.

The next morning the boys had the satisfaction of seeing Goody and his
daughter off by the first train. Neither Hal nor Reg was present at
their reunion, and when they saw them to