276
WYLDER'S HAJVI).
don had been twice quietly to Brandon to lunch, and had
talked an hour alone with the Captain in the library each
time; and that they seemed very " hernest like, and stop-
ped talking directly he (Mr. Larcom) entered the room
with the post-bag " — the attorney knew very well what
was in the wind.
Now, it was not quite clear what was prudent — under
the circumstances. He was in confidential — which meant
lucrative — relations with Mark Wylder. Ditto, ditto
with Captain Lake, of Brandon. He did not wish to lose
either. Was it possible to hold to both, or must he cleave
only to one and despise the other?
Wylder might return any day, and Tom Wealdon would
probably be one of the first men whom he would see.
He must " hang out the signal," in "Galignani." Lake
could never suspect its meaning, even were he to see it.
There was but one risk in it, which was in the coarse per-
fidy of Mark Wylder himself, who would desire no better
fun, in some of his moods, than boasting to Lake of the
whole arrangement in Jos Larkin's presence.
However, on the whole, it was best to obey Mark Wyl-
der's orders, and accordingly " Galignani" said: "Mr.
Smith will take notice that the other party is desirous
to purchase, and becoming very pressing."
In the meantime Lake was pushing his popularity among
the gentry with remarkable industry, and with tolerable
success. Wealdon's two little visits explained perfectly
the active urbanities of Captain Stanley Lake.
About three weeks after the appearance of the adver-
tisement in " Galignani," one of Mark Wylder's letters
reached Larkin. It was dated from Geneva (!) and
said: —
"Dear Larkin, — I saw my friend Smith here in the
cafd, who has kept a bright look out, I dare say; and