"Go to the consul and get him to warn the authorities in Australia, I suppose?"
"No. That would do little or no good—remember, they've got three weeks' start of us."
"Then what shall we do? I'm in your hands entirely, and whatever you advise I promise you I'll do."
"If I were you I should doff my title, take another name, and set sail with me for Australia. Once there, we'll put up in some quiet place and set ourselves to unmask these rascals and to defeat their little game, whatever it may be. Are you prepared for so much excitement as that?"
"Of course I am. Come what may, I'll go with you, and there's my hand on it."
"Then we'll catch the next boat—not a mail-steamer—that sails for an Australian port, and once ashore there we'll set the ball a-rolling with a vengeance."
"That scoundrel Baxter! I'm not vindictive as a rule, but I feel I should like to punish him."
"Well, if they've not flown by the time we reach Australia, you'll probably be able to gratify your wish. It's Nikola, however, I want."
Beckenham shuddered as I mentioned the Doctor's name. So to change the subject I said,——
"I'm thinking of taking a little walk. Would you care to accompany me?"