CHAPTER XXXIV.
SIR JULIUS HOCKLEY'S LETTER.
Jos Larkin mentioned in his conversation with the
Vicar, just related, that he had received a power of at-
torney from Mark Wylder.
This legal instrument was attested by two witnesses, and
bore date about a week before the interview, just related,
between the Vicar and Mr. Larkin. Here, then, was a
fact established. Mark Wylder had returned from
Boulogne, for the power of attorney had been executed at
Brighton. Who were the witnesses? One was Thomas
Tupton, of the Travellers' Hotel, Brighton.
This Thomas Tupton was something of a sporting cel-
ebrity, and a likely man enough to be of Mark's acquain-
tance.
The other witness was Sir Julius Hockley, of Hockley,
an unexceptionable evidence, though a good deal on the
turf.
Now our friend Jos Larkin had something of the Red
Indian's faculty for tracking his game, by hardly percept-
ible signs and tokens, through the wilderness; and this
mystery of Mark Wylder's flight and seclusion was the
present object of his keen and patient pursuit.
On receipt of the "instrument," therefore, he wrote
by return of post, "presenting his respectful compliments
to Sir Julius Hockley, and deeply regretting that, as so-
licitor of the Wylder family, and the gentleman {sic) em-
powered to act under the letter of attorney, it was imper-