The inspector made a sign to his men, and they rather reluctantly dispersed. They were as anxious to know the secret of the mystery as their chief.
"Now, gentlemen," Mr. Brown said, with some severity, "I am waiting to hear an account of your strange conduct."
"Do you recollect," Fred asked, "of being disguised as an old man, and of asking two Americans what they thought of the annexation question?"
"Pshaw, that was a joke," he returned, pettishly.
"Do you recollect that you laughed quite heartily when we promised to retaliate, and 'sell' you on the first favorable opportunity, and that we were defied to do it?" Fred continued. Mr. Brown nodded.
"Well, then we are even," I said.
"I don't see that you are," the inspector, cried. "Here are two notorious criminals who should be safely locked up, and yet you ask me to spare them until morning. I know them both, and will pledge my word that they have stolen more gold dust than any other two parties in Australia."
"And I will pledge my word that I can't begin to prig with the head of the police force in Ballarat," cried Murden, who could remain silent no longer.
Mr. Brown sprang to his feet with indignation stamped upon every line of his face, but before he could proceed to extremities, Murden threw off his wig, unrolled his coat collar, and stood before the inspector as lieutenant of the Melbourne police force, and consequently one grade lower in rank than Mr. Brown.
"Murden," the inspector exclaimed, extending his hand in astonishment.