, was a long report of a horse show, held the previous
afternoon, at which it appeared a large vice-regal and fashionable party
were present. The list included His Excellency the Governor and the
Countess of Amberley, the Ladies Maud and Ermyntrude, their daughters,
the Marquis of Beckenham, Captain Barrenden, an aide-de-camp, and Mr.
Baxter. In a voice that I hardly recognized as my own, so shaken was it
with excitement, I called Beckenham to my side and pointed out to him
his name. He stared, looked away, then stared again, hardly able to
believe his eyes.

"What does it mean?" he whispered, just as he had done in Port Said.
"What does it mean?"

I led him out of the building before I answered, and then clapped him on
the shoulder. "It means, my boy," I said, "that there's been a hitch in
their arrangements, and that we're not too late to circumvent them after
all."

"But where do you think they are staying--these two scoundrels?"

"At Government House, to be sure. Didn't you see that the report said,
'The Earl and Countess of Amberley and a distinguished party from
Government House, including the Marquis of Beckenham,' etc.?"

"Then let us go to Government House at once and unmask them. That is our
bounden duty to society."

"Then all I can say is, if it is our duty to society, society will have
to wait. No, no! We must find out first what their little game is. That
once decided, the unmasking will fall in as a natural consequence. Don't
you understand?"

"I am afraid I don't quite. However, I expect you're right."

By this time we were back again at the ferry. It was not time for the
boat to start, so while we waited we amused ourselves staring at the
placards pasted about on the wharf hoardings. Then a large theatrical
poster caught my eye and drew me towards it. It announced a grand
vice-regal "command" night at one of the principal theatres for that
very evening, and further set forth the fact that the most noble the
Marquis of Beckenham would be amongst the distinguished company.

"Here we are," I called to my companion, who was at a little distance.
"We'll certainly go to this. The Marquis of Beckenham shall honour it
with his patronage and presence after all."

We went back to our hotel for dinner, and as soon as it was eaten
returned to the city to seek the theatre.

When we entered it the building was crowded, and the arrival of the
Government House party was momentarily expected. Presently the