CHAPTER VI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1893, 23 August 1884, Page 5 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VI.

" So you know the lady ?" queried Herbert, in some surprise at the exclamation of astonishment with -which his uncle received the sight of the photograph. "Know her!" then his unole continued, without a direct reply to Herbert* question, " but do you mean to tell me that you saw this lady at the Soots' Church last Sunday ?" " Well, I did not tell you anything about it ; but I may tell you now that I did." 41 Impossible 1" " And why impossible, pray ?' " Beoanse she has been for the last fortnight, and is now, at Berengaria." " Oh, bnt that's absurd, you know, uncle." " It may be absurd, but it is true nevertheless ; her name is Marie Browning ; she is the daughter of an old friend of your mother ; she is eighteen years of age ; she is as beautiful as Hebe ; and that is her portrait, in the same attitude and costume as I have seen her dozens of times." " Then who was the lady that I followed home the other night ?" "Ah ! so you did follow her home ?" " That's not the point : the question is who is she?" " I am not a good hand at conundrums." " It must be her sister." 11 She hasn't got a sister." " Well, I give it up, old man," said Herbert, -with a sigh, " let us go into the card room and see what the boys are doing ; we will have a rubber at whist if you like for an hour or two, and then we will take a stroll before turning in." - " Agreed 1" And the uncle and nephew were soon oblivious of everything but the game of which Philip Penfol&was •* scientific exponent. About 12 o'clock the party broke up, and Philip Penfold and Herbert Fairleigh strolled ,up Collins- street arm in arm. When they came to, the intersection of Collins-street and EuBBe^ r Btreet they stopped for * moment to contemplate the monument whiah a f grateful people;haye, erected in, honor of men who, taking their lives in their >h»nds,- crossed' the

eorttinant from soutk to aonb *ad rptnrninj; left tbeir bonea at Cooper's Creek, as mute evidences of the weakness of humanity -when face to fade, alone and defenceless, against the giant forces of Nature. Full of such thoughts as there the two friends remained under the shadow of Burke and Wills' monument while they looked over the huge city which has emerged from the wilderness within a generation. The ScoK Church shot up its tall spire at one corner of the street, as if wishing to overshadow ite IpsB aspiring- brother at the other corner. Collins-street was almost deserted with the exception of an occasional pedestrian strolling homeward from his club. Prom Bonrkestreet an occasional rattle of a cab was heard above the confused hum, which told that traffic had not ceased in that quarter of the city yet. Away across the river, from which a dense fog was already rising, could be seen the huge pile of Government House like a rnediffival cistle overlooking Prince's Bridge and^all the pqualid accompaniments of filth and offal which the St. Kilda approach to Prince's .Bridge inevitably suggests. The uncle and nephew were Bilent spectators of the scene. Philip wa<? about to aadre«s a remark to Herbert, when they heard footsteps coming up on the other side of the monument, and some one struck a match ' ■with sacrilegious hands upon the rose of one : of the camel r, with which, the conscientious artist had adorned the monolith. " It is as easy as lying," said a voice, the owner of which was evidently busily engaged lighting hte pipe. "Whero is the honse, captain?" said another voice. 41 Blast you I how often have I told you not to call me captain." 1 " All right, Borlace, old man, I won't," | said the other ; " but thero is no harm in calling you Captain Borlace here, where wo arc as much alone as if we Were in the wilderness where them chaps left their bones for the sake of their countty, yer know. Gosh, you wouldn't catch me doin' it." " No, you'll die quite another death," said Borlace, drily ; but let ns go to our crib, and we'll talk over our affair there quietly." As soon as the men left, Herbert whispered to Philip : " Lot us follow the scoundrels and try and find out what miachief they are hatching." Philip was da^ed and speechless. He had heard one of tho men address the other as Captain Borlaco. He had caught sight of the taller man and recognised him as the husband of Emily Morton. His brain was iv a whirl, but he answered Herbert mechanically, and they followed the retreating figures of the two men Who were fast disappearing in the darkness. Turning into Flinders-lane they pursued their way for some distance, keeping in the shadow of the warehouses which line both , •sides of the busy street. They turned up a blind alley. " Phew ! " whistled Herbert. 41 What ia the matter ? " enquired his uncle. " Hanged if I don't think they are making for the Cave of Adullam." " What's the Cave of Adallam." " Years ago it was a favorite rendezvous of needy literary men — a sort of Alsatia, you know." "What is it now?" 14 1 don't know. It has been long abandoned by its former hab/tt£s, and I suppose it ha 3 been taken possession of by thieves and burglars. I used to be a member of the club. We were supposed to be all impecunious ; and I, like a good many others, shammed impecuniosity for the sake of gaining admiision within the charmed circle. I knpw the run of the place. There is a hole in the wall, near an old iron malt tank, where we can sea and hear everything." Under cover of the malt tank Philip and Herbert investigated the interior of the Cave of Adullam ; and discovered the two figures, engaged in earnest conversation, as we left thorn in the last chapter. "When are you going to crack the crib," said the smaller man. 14 We'll do it to-morrow," remarked the other ; " or, rather, I'll do it myself, and you can keep watch outside, which I think is a more congenial occupation for you." 44 Well, there ain't much danger in it if it's only a ladies' school." "It is not a question of danger, my cou- { rageoua friend; but you would probably make a bungle of it." 41 Where is the house ? " 44 At the corner of Began and Gonneril streets." Herbert grasped the arm of his uncle convulsively, as he whimpered in his ear, " That's her house." J 44 What's the name of the party ? " continued the smaller ruffian. 41 Mrs. Browning." Philip and Herbert made no remark ; but they squeezed each other's hands as indicating that they fully comprehended the mystery which had, until then, surrounded the matter of the likeness between Marie Browning and the fair incognito. They stayed at their post long enough to hear full particulars of the scheme ; and then they silently Hole away, to mature a scheme for the frustration of the nefarious project, while Captain Borlace and his associate settled down to steady drinking. 41 Lot us go back to the club, uncle," said Herbert, when they were out of ear-shot. 41 Don't you think we had better adriso the police at once ? " 44 No." " What do you propose to do, then*?" 44 We'll capture them ourselves." "Oh!" 41 You'll tackle the one, and I'll tackle the other ; and I guc3s we'll give a tolerably good account of them both." 41 Very well," said Philip, " whioh will you have?" 41 You can take your choioe, uncle, but I think you had better let me tackle the big fellow." 14 You have not lost any of your modesty, I notice," returned Philip, with a laugh. " I think we had better toss for them." 4( All right, uncle ; 4 heads,' I take the captain, 4 tails,' you take the other fellow." 41 1 see you are determined to have your own way, Herbert. So be it, then; but what about advising Mrs. Browning ? " 41 We'll call upon her to-morrow."