mmissioner's
question, "that three days since I saw the governor, and he inquired for
these gentlemen, and sent a message that they must call and see him the
first time that they visited Melbourne."

"Have you any letters or documents to prove that his excellency regards
these gentlemen with unusual interest?"

The inspector glanced towards us, in hope that we could rescue him from
the position in which his assertions had placed him, but we were afraid
that we could benefit him but little, as we were not in possession of an
autograph letter from the governor, and what was more, had never seen
one. I suddenly recollected, however, having in my possession a copy of
one of the Melbourne papers, in which our services at the great fire
were mentioned in eulogistic terms; and I concluded that I would let Mr.
Sherwin peruse the paragraph, in hopes that he would imagine much more
than the reality.

My experiment succeeded admirably.

Mr. Sherwin eagerly perused the paragraph; and after he had concluded,
folded the paper, and requested permission to speak with Mr. Brown in
private for a few minutes. Obedient to the intimation, the policemen and
the rest of us fell back, and suffered the two officers to have a quiet
talk. They whispered together earnestly for a time, and then Fred and
myself were summoned to the council.

"The commissioner is not disposed to press this matter," Mr. Brown said.
"I have convinced him that you are a little different from what he
supposed; and he will admit both of you to bail until such time as Mr.
Critchet is able to testify, or at least until more evidence is offered
than what Follet brings forward."

We bowed our thanks, and blessed the governor-general, to think that his
name made such a difference with his officers.

"We cannot be too careful in this part of the country," the commissioner
said, "whom we trust, we are so liable to imposition. Our life is a hard
one, to make the best of it; and I shall be glad when I am changed to
some other location, where jurisdiction is not taken so extensively as
at Ballarat. I have long desired a change."

Mr. Brown winked with both eyes in a violent manner, as though warning
us that the pitch of his regret at being at Ballarat was yet to come.

"One good turn deserves another," Mr. Sherwin said; and then lowering
his voice, he continued, "May I hope that you will remind his excellency
that I deserve a better position than the one that I now hold?"