WYLDER'S HJUVD.
241
been anticipated. Sir Francis Seddley returned to London
on Sunday afternoon."
Within a week after the operation, Buddie began to
talk so confidently about his patient, that the funeral
cloud that overhung Brandon had almost disappeared, and
Major Jackson had unpacked his portmanteau.
About a week after the " accident" there came one of
Mark Wylder's strange letters to Mr. Jos Larkin. This
time it was from Marseilles, and bore date the 27th of
November. It was much the longest he had yet received,
and was in the nature of a despatch, rather than of those
short notes in which he had hitherto, for the most part
communicated.
Like the rest of his letters it was odd, but written, as
it seemed, in better spirits.
"Dear Larkin,— You will be surprised to find me in
this port, but I think my secret cruise is nearly over now,
and you will say the plan was a master-stroke, and well
executed by a poor devil, with nobody to advise him. I
am coiling such a web round them, and making it fast, as
you may see a spider, first to this point and then .to the
<' ; or. that I won't leave my persecutors one solitary
chance of escape. I'll draw it quietly round and round
— closer and closer — till they can neither blow nor budge,
and then up to the yardarm they go, with what breath is
left in them. You don't know yet how I am dodging, or
why my measures are taken; but I'll shorten your long
face a good inch with a genuine broad grin when you
learn how it all was. I may see you to tell the story in
four weeks' time; but keep this close. Don't mention
where I write from, nor even so much as my name. I
have reasons fur everything, which you may guess, I dare
say, being a sharp chap; and it is not for nothing, be very
11