r. The guests, who were hovering around the door,
waited impatiently for the officer to make his reappearance and report.

Ten minutes passed away, and still the officer was invisible. Half an
hour glided by, and then the crowd ventured to knock, but there was no
answer. The door was tried, and found to be locked.

His excellency was consulted, and he sent for an armorer of the regiment
stationed in Melbourne, a man very skilful in picking and repairing
locks. The soldier exerted his skill, but in vain; the door refused to
open, and then, grown desperate, the governor ordered an axe brought,
and a few vigorous blows drove the door from its hinges, and a crowd
rushed in.

There was no light in the apartment, and Mr. P----, the jealous husband,
was so eager that he stumbled over some object lying on the floor, and
pitched headlong against the wall, bruising his bald head, and causing
him to curse, with all an Englishman's spleen, at his mishap, while he
did not forget to allude to his wife in his prayers as the cause of his
misfortune.

A light was brought as speedily as possible, and, to the consternation
of those present, the aide-de-camp was found extended upon the floor,
his arms tied behind his back, his mouth gagged with a pocket
handkerchief, and on his breast was pinned a piece of paper addressed to
the governor.

It was but the work of a moment to relieve the officer from his
unpleasant position, and the instant he could speak he rushed for the
window, which was observed to be open, and hailed the sentry, who was
pacing back and forth a short distance beneath.

The guard answered promptly, but declared that no one had passed him
that evening, and that if a man had attempted to escape by the window he
should have seen him.

By this time his excellency had read the note, and was raving for the
captain of the police force, and vowing that it was dangerous to live in
his own palace, the bushrangers had become so audacious.

The word bushranger struck terror into the hearts of all present, and
even the jealous husband modulated his wrath, and rubbed his head with
some degree of contentment.

There was considerable curiosity to learn the contents of the note, but
etiquette required that the governor should not be asked regarding it,
although every gentleman present was bursting to know, and all the
ladies were unanimously of the opinion that the adventure was romantic,
and actually looked upon Mrs. P----, wh