WYLDER'S HAJVD.
249
1
"No; absolutely nothing — he's a very strange cli-
ent i" said Larkin, laughing again. "There can be no
objection, of course, to your reading it; and he thinks —
he thinks — he'll be here soon again —oh, here it is."
Mr. Larkin had been fumbling, first in his deep waist-
coat, and then in his breast-pocket, as if for the letter,
which was locked fast into the iron safe, with Chubb's
patent lock, in his office at the Lodge. But it would
not have done to have kept a secret from Captain Lake,
of Brandon; and therefore his not seeing the note was a
mere accident.
"Oh! no — stupid ! — that's Mullett and Hock's. I
have not got it with me; but it does not signify, for
there's nothing in it. I hope I shall soon be favored
with his directions as to what to do with the money.
"He's an odd fellow; and I don't know how he feels
towards me; but on my part there is no feeling, I do as-
sure you, but the natural desire to live on the friendly
terms which our ties of family and our position in the
county " —
Stanley Lake was writing the cheque for 200/. mean-
while, and handed it to Larkin; and as that gentleman
penned a receipt, the Captain continued — his eyes low-
ered to the little vellum-bound book in which he was now
making an entry; —
"You have handed me a large sum, Mr. Larkin —
3,276/. lis. 4rf. I undertook this, you know, on the
understanding that it was not to go on very long; and I
'find my own business pretty nearly as much as I can
manage. Is Wylder at all definite as to when we may ex-
pect his return?"
"Oh, dear no — quite as usual — he expects to be here
soon; but that is all. I so wish I had brought his note
with me; but I'm positive that is all."
So, this little matter settled, the lawyer took his leave
11*