WYLDER'S HJlJVD.
201
or Larktns, or Larkme, or Larkws — Sir J. H. is not
able to read which or what; but he is happy to observe
at all events, that, end how he may, the gentleman begins
with a 'lark !' which Sir J. H. always does when he can.
Not being able to discover his terminal syllable, he will
take the liberty of styling him by his sprightly beginning,
and calling him shortly 'Lark ;' and by way of a lark, Sir
J. will answer Lark's questions, which are not, he thinks,
very inpertinent. The wildest of all Lark's questions,
refers to Wylder's place of abode, which Sir J. was never
wild enough to think of asking after, and does not know;
and so little was he acquainted with the gentleman, that
he forgot he was an evangelist doing good under the style
and title of Mark. Lark may, therefore, tell Mark, if he
sees him, or his friends — Matthew, Luke, and John —
that Sir Julius saw Mark only on two successive days, at
the cricket-match, played between Paul's Eleven and the
Ishmaelites (these, I am bound to observe, were literally
the designations of the opposing sides); and that he had
the honor of being presented to Mark — saint or sinner,
as he may be —on the ground, by his, Sir J. H.'s, friend,
Captain Stanley Lake, of the Guards."
Here was an astounding fact. Stanley Lake had been
in Mark Wylder's company only ten days ago, when that
great match was played at Brighton! What a deep gen-
tleman was that Stanley Lake, who sat at the other end
Df the table with the "Times" before him. What a var-
nished rascal — what a matchless liar!
1 He had returned to Gylingden, direct, in all likelihood,
fium his conferences with Mark Wylder, to tell all con-
cerned that it was vain endeavoring to trace him, and still
offering his disinterested services in the pursuit.
No matter! We must take things coolly and cautiously.
All this chicanery will yet break down, and the conspiracy,
9*