Sir Joshua Hobb sat in his Department Office in Parliament street, with every sign of perplexity and rage in his face and attitude. His contest of authority with the unknown and mysterious man had fairly crushed him. In the face of the officials whom he had trained to regard his word as the utterance of Power itself, never to be questioned nor disobeyed, he had been challenged, commanded, degraded. It was a bitter draught; and what if he had only taken the first sickening mouthful?
He was interrupted in his morose reflections by the entrance of Mr. Haggett, whose air was almost as dejected as his superior's.
Haggett stood silently at the door, looking at the great man, somewhat as a spaniel might look at its master. The spare curtain of his lip was folded into leathery wrinkles round his capacious mouth.
"Haggett," said Sir Joshua, turning wearily to the fire, "who the devil is this man?"
"He's a rich Australian—" began Haggett, in a confidential voice.
"Ass!" said the Chief Director, without looking at him.
Mr. Haggett, returning not even a glance of resentment, accepted the correction, and remained silent.
"Haggett," said Sir Joshua, after a pause, during which he had stared into the fire, when does the convict ship sail?"
"In two weeks, sir."
"I want you to go to West Australia on that ship, Haggett."
"I, Sir Joshua? Leave London? I shall be ordained this year. I shall—"
"Pshaw! I want you, man. No one else will do. You can attend to private matters on your return. I shall personally assist you with my influence."
"Well, Sir Joshua?"
"No one else can do it, Haggett."
"What is to be done, sir?"
"I want to know all that is to be known in West Australia about this Wyville."
"Do you suspect anything, sir?" asked Mr. Haggett.
"No; I have no reason either for suspicion or belief. I know absolutely nothing about the man, nor can I find any one who does."
"And yet that commission—"
"Yes, that was a disappointment. In one or two cases I have heard of the same high influence, given in the same secret manner."
"Were the other holders mysterious, too?" asked Haggett, reflectively, folding and unfolding his facial hangings.
"They were all cases in which philanthropists might meet with opposition from officials; and this strange but unquestionable power was given as a kind of private commission."
"It strikes down all the rules, andmdash;"
"Yes, Yes," interrupted Sir Joshua, striking the coal with the tongs; "but there it is. It must be acknowledged without question."
"Have you no clue to the reason for which this special authority was given to him?" asked Haggett.
"I have not thought of it; but I am not surprised. This man, as you know, has reformed the Indian Penal System at the Andaman Islands, expending immense sums of his own money to carry out the change. Afterwards, he was received by the French Emperor as an authority on the treatment of crime, and had much to do with their new transportation scheme. A man with this record, accepted by the Prime Minister, was just the person to be specially commissioned by the Queen."
"He is young to be so very wealthy," mused Haggett.
"Yes, that is mysterious; no one knows the source of his wealth. This is your mission: find out all about him, and report to me by mail within six months."
"Then I am really to go to Australia?" said Haggett, with a doleful aspect.
"Yes, Haggett; there's no other way. Inquiry into mysterious men's lives is always worth the trouble. You may learn nothing, but—it had better be done."
"Well, Sir Joshua, I want a favour from you in return."
"What is it? You shall have it, if it he in my power."
"Send that prisoner, Number Four, on the ship; but countermand the order for the Papist nun."
"You want the nun to remain?"
"Yes, Sir; they ought to be separated. This Wyville takes a great interest in Number Four. It was he that sent the nun to her."
"Certainly, Haggett; it shall be done. Stay, let me write the order now."
"Thank you, Sir Joshua," said Haggett, rubbing his hands.
There, take that to the Governor of Millbank. Number Four shall be sent with the first batch to the ship. The nun is to remain."
Mr. Haggett departed, and as he walked down Parliament street, glancing furtively around to see that he was unobserved, he smiled to the uttermost reef.