"If you are my friend,
I set you this task.
Aid me to an end,
If you are my friend,
Your comradeship lend.
This secret unmask.
If you are my friend
I set you this task."
 
 
"Maxwell, Globetrotters, to Clendon, Vicarage, Deswarth.--Come to me at once. Important."
 
Toby was a lover and therefore to leave the vicinity of his beloved; but he was also a friend, and being of a kind, staunch nature, speedily made up his mind to obey at once the telegram. His father who sincerely regretted the misfortune which had befallen the unfortunate Kaituna and her lover, warmly approved of his son's going away; so, Toby's mind being at rest concerning the opinion, he rode over to the Valpys, in order to see what Tommy thought about the matter.
 
As he expected, she said he was to lose no time in going to Maxwell, and also gave him several affectionate messages for Kaituna.
 
"You don't know how sorry I am for her, Toby," she said, with a sigh. "Fancy losing your father and then all your money."
 
"Still Archie is left," observed Toby, wisely.
 
"Yes; I'm glad of that. She will always have him to protect her, and that kind woman, Mrs. Belswin. Now then, Toby, don't you say there are no good people in this world when Mrs. Belswin has acted as she has done."
 
"I never said there were no good people in the world," retorted her lover in an injured tone. "I only said that good people are few and far between."
 
"Of course," went on Tommy, without noticing this defence, "Kaituna could always have found a home with ma and I. I wish she had come here instead of going to London; but Mrs. Belswin seems very fond of her, and then Mr. Maxwell will marry her soon, so she will be happy some day."
 
"I wonder why Mrs. Belswin is so very fond of Kaituna," speculated Toby, idly. "Paid companions as a rule don't go beyond their wages in the matter of affection, but Mrs. Belswin goes the entire bakery."
 
"Toby, don't be vulgar," replied Miss Valpy, reprovingly; "Mrs. Belswin is a very superior woman."
 
"I hate superior women."
 
"Oh, thank you!"
 
"You're not a superior woman," said Clendon, laughingly.
 
"What am I, then?"
 
"The dearest girl in the world."
 
"I am! I am! You'll find that out when your wife's milliner's bill comes in. Now, don't, Toby! There are more important things than kissing."
 
"Not just now," replied Clendon, and kissed her twice. "Good-bye, dearest I shall expect a letter every day."
 
"Will you really? How long will you be absent?"
 
"I don't know! It depends on what Archie wants to see me about."
 
"Well, I'll write. Good-bye, and take my love to Kaituna."
 
"Certainly; only I hope it won't get damaged during the ."
 
So they parted, and Tommy returned to discuss Kaituna's future with her mother, while Toby packed his portmanteau, and, after taking leave of his father, caught the afternoon train to town.
 
Archie Maxwell, when engaged in foreign parts, underwent all incidental hardships without a , and accepted all disagreeables with a philosophy beautiful to ; but Archie Maxwell when in London indemnified himself for all such hardships by giving himself as many pleasures as his income permitted him. Being a young gentleman of good family, he had a very reputable circle of acquaintances, he had very pleasant rooms in the West End, and belonged to the Globetrotters, which is, as every one knows, a very exclusive club. Being clever in his profession, Archie made a very decent income, and having no reason that he knew of to save money, spent every penny he made with a kind of "it-will-be-all-right-in-the-end," philosophy; but now that he was engaged to Kaituna, he made various excellent resolutions about economy, and resolved to put by as much as possible for the future home of Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell.
 
He was a very methodical young man, was Mr. Maxwell, and speedily made up his mind what course to pursue, which course involved the co-operation of Clendon--hence the telegram which brought the latter up to town.
 
As Toby had let his during his visit to Deswarth, Archie offered to put him up for the night, which offer Clendon accepted with avidity, as he too was on the economic . Oh, it was truly a beautiful spectacle to behold these young men, so careless of money matters, now as careful of the shillings as they had been careless of the pounds. On this night, however, as Archie was going to arrange his future plans, he proposed to Toby that they should, for a few hours only, to the dear old days and enjoy themselves. To this Toby, who hankered after the flesh pots of Egypt, agreed; so they arranged to have the best dinner which the Globetrotters was capable of providing; and afterwards Archie was to unburden his mind to his friend.
 
The Globetrotters is a very pleasant club, in an excellent situation, and as the members are all travelled men of a turn of mind, the society to be found there is not to be despised from an point of view. Had Marco Polo, or Christopher Columbus, lived in the nineteenth century, they would certainly have been members of the Globetrotters; and as for Ulysses--but then Ulysses was fond of feminine society, so perhaps he would not have cared for the exclusively masculine element of the club. At all events, when Archie (who being a traveller, was a member) arrived with Toby--who being a stay-at-home, was not--they found a great many pleasant people there, including a bearded traveller, who had been lion-shooting in Africa; another who had made arrangements to find out the North Pole, if he was able; and several other nineteenth century productions, who all knew and liked Maxwell. Archie, however, was too taken up with his plans to waste much time in hearing adventures about big game shooting, and artful ; so he went off with Toby to a very table, where they had an excellent dinner under the of a friendly waiter, who was as great a traveller as any in the club, having been a on a P. & O. liner.
 
After dinner, during which they had discussed various topics, all bearing on the Pethram murder, and their future married happiness, Archie and his friend sought a corner in the smoking-room, ordered coffee and cigarettes, and, when they were comfortable, began to talk business.
 
"Toby," said Archie, reflectively, "we've known each other a good many years."
 
"Seeing we were at school together I may say we have," replied Clendon, smiling. "Come, now, Archie, you want me to do something, and don't like asking."
 
"That's true, because I'm going to ask you to make a sacrifice."
 
"Not to give up Tommy?"
 
"No! no! I don't want to break your heart, old fellow; but I--I----"
 
"Well, what is the sacrifice?"
 
"I want you to leave England for a few months and go to Melbourne."
 
"What for?" asked Toby, aghast at this strange request.
 
"I'll tell you! I hav............