One thing astonished Madame Midas very much, and that was the
continuous absence of her husband. She did not believe he was dead,
and fully expected to see him turn up some time; but as the months
passed on, and he did not appear, she became uneasy. The idea of his
lurking round was a constant nightmare to her, and at last she
placed the matter in the hands of the police, with instructions to
try to ascertain what became of him.
The police did everything in their power to discover Villiers'
whereabouts, but without success. Unfortunately, Slivers, who might
have helped them, being so well acquainted with the missing man's
habits, was dead; and, after trying for about three months to find
some traces of Villiers, the police gave up the search in despair.
Madame Midas, therefore, came to the conclusion that he was either
dead or had left the colony, and though half doubtful, yet hoped
that she had now seen the last of him.
She had invested her money largely in land, and thus being above the
reach of poverty for the rest of her life, she determined to take up
her abode in Melbourne for a few months, prior to going to England
on a visit. With this resolution, she gave up her cottage to Archie,
who was to live in it, and still manage the mine, and made
preparations to come down to Melbourne with Selina Sprotts.
Vandeloup heard of this resolution, and secretly rejoiced at it, for
he thought that seeing she liked him so much, now that her husband
was to all appearances dead, she might marry him, and it was to this
end he had kept up his acquaintance with her.
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