104
WYLDER'S HAJVJD.
of that modest post-office, at which the young ladies in the
pony carriage had pulled up the day hefore, and within
which Luke Waggot was wont to sleep in a sort of wooden
box that folded up and appeared to be a chest of drawers
all day. Luke took care of Mr. Larkin's dogs, and
groomed Mr. Wylder's horse, and "cleaned up" his dog-
cart, for Mark being close about money, and finding that
the thing was to be done more cheaply that way, put up
his horse and dog-cart in the post-office premises, and so
evaded the livery charges of the '' Brandon Arms."
But Luke was not there; and Captain Lake recollecting
his habits and his haunt, hurried on to the " Silver Lion,"
which has its gable towards the common, only about a
hundred steps away, for distances are not great in Gyling-
den. Here were the flow of soul and of stout, long pipes,
long yarns, and tolerably long credits; and the humble
scapegraces of the town restored thither for the pleasures
of a club-life, and often revelled deep into the small hours
of the morning.
So Luke came forth.
"D—it where's the note ?" said the Captain, rummag-
ing uneasily in his pockets.
"You know me — eh?"
"Captain Lake. Yes, sir,"
"Well —oh ! here it is."
It was a scrap pencilled on the back of a letter —
"Luke Waggot,— Put the horse to and drive the
dog-cart to the " White House." Look out for me there.
We must catch the up mail train at Dollington. Be live-
ly. If Captain Lake chooses to drive you need not come.
'M. Wylder."
"I'll drive," said Captain Lake. "Lose no time and
I'll give you half-a-crown."