WYLDER'S HAJVD.
123
Don't wait for me about the parchments; I am satisfied.
If anything crosses your mind, a word with Mr. De C. at
the Hall, will clear all up. Have all ready to sign and
seal when I come back— certainly, within a week.
"Yours sincerely,
"M. Wyldeb,
'London."
It was evidently written in great haste, with the broad
nibbed pen he liked; but notwithstanding the sort of swag-
ger with which the writing marched across the page, Lake
might have seen here and there a little quaver — indicative
of something different from haste — the vibrations of an-
other sort of flurry.
"' Certainly within a week,' he writes. Does he mean
he'll be here in a week or only to have the papers ready
in a week?" asked Lake.
"The question, certainly, does arise. It struck me on
the first perusal," answered the attorney. "His address
is rather a wide one, too — London! Do you know his
club, Captain Lake?"
"'The Wanderers.' He has left the' United Service.'1
Nothing for me, by the way?"
"No letter. No."
"Tant mieux, I hate them," said the Captain. "I
wonder how my sister is this morning."
"Would you like a messenger? I'll send down with
pleasure to enquire."
'"Thank you, no; I'll walk down and see her."
And Lake yawned at the window, and then took his hat
and stick and sauntered toward Gylingden. At the post-
office window he tapped with the silver tip of his cane, and
told Miss Driver with a sleepy smile —
"I'm going down to Redman's Farm, and any letters for
my sister, Miss Lake, I may as well take with me."