n appointment with him at our house."

"What then?"

"Then you can make use of your die, my boy."

"It's a glorious idea, but I don't like parting with the stick. Having
it by me is a great source of satisfaction to me."

"We can trust Terence. He's no fool, and knows well enough what success
will mean to him."

"How about the doctor?"

"I wired young Aveling to come over with Goody and the girls. The boat's
due at mid-day to-morrow. Come on down now, Terence ought to be here."

"Then I am to bring the stick with me?"

"Yes, certainly, old chap. It's our only chance."

They found Terence below, rigged out in his Sunday best, and looking
very smart. The stick was handed to him, with full instructions how to
act, and what to say, should the gentleman recognise the stick.

"You can depend on me, gentlemen," said Terence.

"Be off now, Terence, and don't drink anything strong. Stick to light
stuff, and report to us directly you have seen him."

"Right you are, your honour, and be jabers, if he's the man, we'll see
him at 345, Nicholson Street," said Terence as he left.

About nine o'clock Terence called at their hotel, in a very excited
state, and quite out of breath.

"It's Wyck, it's Wyck," he said, sinking down on a chair and wiping his
forehead. They gave him time to recover his breath, and then he told
them his story.

"When I left your honour," he said, "I went to the 'Gaiety,' but he was
not there, so I waited on the other side of the road, as I didn't want
Dick to see me togged up. Just about seven, I see Dick's cab drive up,
and out jumps the old gentleman. When Dick had driven off again, I
followed him into the saloon. There he was, larking with Miss Harris,
but I took no notice of him at all. 'A glass of lager,' says I,
throwing down a sovereign carelessly, like as if I was a toff, and as I
counted the change I put the stick on the counter. The old gent he gives
a start directly he sees it, and he looks quite hard at me, but I took
no notice and called for a smoke. Well, I lights up, says good-night,
and was just off, when he calls out--'Have another drink with me?'

"'I don't mind,' says I.

"'That's a curious sort of stick,' says he, pointing to it.

"'Yes,' says I.

"'Had it long,' says he.

"'Some months now,' says I.

"'What's them notches on it for?' says he.

"'I don't know. It don't belong to me.'

"'Whose is it then?' asks he, getting interested.

"'Oh,' says I, 'there's qu