After a hasty breakfast, he hurried round to the "Grosvenor," and asked for Goody, and shewed him the telegram.
"Is that friend of yours here still?" asked Reg.
"No, he has gone to stay at Government House for a few days. He shewed me a most pressing invitation."
"Last night. He told me he knew a lot of the Governor's friends, and that the Governor had asked him almost as a favour to go, as he complained of being bored."
"Yes, he seemed to sympathise with his friend."
"Poor devils, how badly we treat them," said Reg, with mock commiseration.
"Now I don't agree with you there, Mr. Morris. I think we treat the Governors right royally;" said Goody, mistaking his tone.
"You try to do so in your straightforward, honest way, and such are the thanks you get for it. But good-bye for the present, I have some work to do."
Reg hurried away to Blue Gums where he produced the telegram, which the girls read with surprise. All agreed that nothing could be done until Hal returned.
"You'll keep your appointment with Mrs. Montague," said Reg, rising to go: "but you must excuse me. I want to look round."
"Then he can't be Wyck," said Hil, emphatically.
Meeting Hal on the arrival of his train, they drove together to their hotel, to take up the thread of their abandoned plans. Hal told his story:
"On my arrival, I went to the 'Royal' and saw Bill, who, of course, said he knew nothing; but when I threatened to arrest him on a warrant he changed his tone. He told me Wyck had called for his things on the day before the flood, and then started for Sydney. Bill said he had complained about the loss of a black stick, of which he knew nothing. I wired to you, and caught the next train back."
"I expect Mr. and Mrs. Whyte. They arrived at Adelaide on Monday," said Reg, handing him their telegram.
"Oh, you remember old Joe Brown, who swore to Wyck's identity?"
"I saw him here yesterday," said Reg. "I followed him, and he got into a cab, with whom do you think?"
"Then that settles it. Well, now we will get the girls to call a meeting at Blue Gums to-morrow. They must invite Mr. and Mrs. Montague, Goody and ourselves; then we can compare notes, for we all must go to the garden-party at Government House to-morrow afternoon."