is more fortunate suitor? Would it be any use my
going to him and--but no, that was clearly impossible. Could I induce
Phyllis to run away with me? That was possible, of course, but I rather
doubted if she would care to take such an extreme step until every other
means had proved unsuccessful. Then what was to be done? I began to wish
that Beckenham would return in order that we might consult together.

Half an hour later our lunch was ready, but still no sign came of the
youth. Where could he have got to? I waited an hour and then fell to
work. Three o'clock arrived and still no sign--four, five, and even six.
By this time I was in a fever of anxiety. I remembered the existence of
the man who had followed us from Melbourne, and Beckenham's trusting
good nature. Then and there I resolved, if he did not return before
half-past seven, to set off for the nearest police-station and have a
search made for him. Slowly the large hand of the clock went round, and
when, at the time stated, he had not appeared, I donned my hat and,
inquiring the way, set off for the home of the law.

On arriving there and stating my business I was immediately conducted to
the inspector in charge, who questioned me very closely as to
Beckenham's appearance, age, profession, etc. Having done this, he
said:--

"But what reason have you, sir, for supposing that the young man has
been done away with? He has only been absent from his abode, according
to your statement, about eight or nine hours."

"Simply because," I answered, "I have the best of reasons for knowing
that ever since his arrival in Australia he has been shadowed. This
morning he said he would only go for a short stroll before lunch, and I
am positively certain, knowing my anxiety about him, he would not have
remained away so long of his own accord without communicating with me."

"Is there any motive you can assign for this shadowing?"

"My friend is heir to an enormous property in England. Perhaps that may
assist you in discovering one?"

"Very possibly. But still I am inclined to think you are a little hasty
in coming to so terrible a conclusion, Mr. ----?"

"Hatteras is my name, and I am staying at the _General Officer Hotel_ in
Palgrave Street."

"Well, Mr. Hatteras, if I were you I would go back to your hotel. You
will probably find your friend there eating his dinner and thinking
about instituting a search for you. If, however, he has not turned up,
and does not do so by