200 WYLDER'S HAJVD.
ative upon him to trouble him (Sir Julius H) with a few
interrogatories, which he trusted he would have no difficul-
ty, in answering."
The first was, whether he had been acquainted with
Mr. Wylder's personal appearance before seeing him
sign, so as to be able to indentify him. The second was,
whether he (Mr. M. W.) was accompanied, at the time of
executing the instrument, by any friend; and if so, what
were the name and address of such friend. And the third
was whether he could communicate any information what-
soever respecting Mr. M. W.'s present place of abode?
The same queries were put in a somewhat peremptory
way to the sporting hotel-keeper, who answered that Mr.
Mark Wylder had been staying for a week at his house,
about five months ago, and that he had seen him twice
— once "backing" Jonathan, when he beat the great
American billiard-player; and another time, when he lent
him his copy of "Bell's Life," in the coffee-room; and
thus he was enabled to identify him. For the rest he
could say nothing.
Sir Julius's reply was of the hoity-toity and rollicking
sort, bordering in parts very nearly on nonsense, and gen-
erally impertinent. It reached Mr. Larkin as he set at
breakfast with his friend, Stanley Lake.
"Pray read your letters, and don't mind me, I entreat.
Perhaps you will allow me to look at the ' Times;' and
I'll trouble you for the sardines."
The postmark "Hockley," stared the lawyer in the
face; and, longing to break the seal, he availed himself
of the Captain's permission. So Lake opened the
"Times;" and, as he studied its columns, I think he
stole a glance or two over its margin at the attorney, now
deep in the letter of Sir Julius Hockley.
He (Sir J. H.) "presented his respects to Mr. Larkercs,