rove off. I didn't take much notice of that, but I did notice
that Dick didn't come back until nearly twelve, and when he did he
seemed pleased with hisself. Next day morning I was passing the
'Gaiety,' when I'm blowed if I didn't see Dick's cab a-waiting outside,
so I drives down a lane a bit and watches, and sure that elderly gent
comes out again with one of the young ladies, and drives away. When Dick
comes back to the stand that night, I says to him--'Got another soft
line, Dick'--'Yes,' he says, 'but he's going away soon!' Well, I tried
all I knew, but Dick he was fly, and as this chap seemed to carry on
just like Wyck, I thought it would do no harm to send for you."

"He's got grey hair you say, Terence?" asked Hal.

"Yes, but he don't look old, and I know he's a toff, too."

"It's worth risking, Reg. Let's make all preparations in case it is, for
we do not intend to let him slip again."

"What shall we do first?"

"We want a furnished house, Terence."

"Sure you can get hundreds of 'em, sir."

"Do you know of one close handy?"

"I saw one in Nicholson Street only yesterday, for I drove a gent to
look at it, but he said the rent was too much."

"How much was it, Terence?"

"Two pounds ten a week."

"Let's go and have a look at it."

Calling a cab they drove up Collins Street to Nicholson Street, and
half-an-hour later they had the receipt for two weeks' rent of an
eight-roomed house.

"The next thing for you to do, Terence, is to swell up a bit," said Hal.

"What do you mean--put my Sunday togs on?"

"Yes, that's the idea. How long will it take you?"

"About an hour, sir."

"Then go and do it, and meet me at 'Menzie's,' in an hour's time. Here's
a sovereign to go on with."

The boys then drove to "Menzie's," engaged a room and locked themselves
in.

"The only way we can satisfy ourselves as to his identity is by means of
that stick."

"The stick! How are you going to do it? I cannot part with it on any
account," said Reg, grasping it firmly, as if in fear that it would
vanish altogether; he had had it made so that it could be put together
in one, or taken apart.

"My idea is to send Terence to the 'Gaiety' at a time when this man is
there, and carry the stick openly in his hand."

"What then?"

"Why, if he really is Wyck, he is almost certain to shew some interest
in the stick."

"Yes?"

"Well, that will put Terence on his guard, and he can tell him some yarn
about it, and make a