WYLDER'S HAJVD.
293
say Jos Larkin does not like the Captain a bit too well —
and he has the will off, every word of it; and I think, if
Captain Lake doos not take care, he may get into trouble;
and maybe it would not be amiss if you gave him a hint."
Tom Wealdon, indeed, was a good-natured fellow; and
if he had had his way, I think the world would have gone
smoothl^enough with most people.
ilj^em
IAPTER XLVIII
LARCOM, THE BUTLER, VISITS THE ATTORNEY.
Now I may as well mention here an occurrence which,
seeming very insignificant, has yet a bearing upon the
current of this tale, and it is this. About four days after
the receipt of the despatches to which the conference of
Captain Lake and the attorney referred, there came a let-
ter from the same prolific correspondent, dated 20th March,
from Genoa, which altogether puzzled Mr. Larkin. It
commenced thus: —
"Genoa: 20th March.
"Dear Larkin, — I hope you did the three commis-
sions all right. Wealdon won't refuse, I reckon — but
don't let Lake guess what the 150/. is for. Pay Martin
for the job when finished; it is under 60/. mind; and get
it looked at first."
There was a great deal more, but these were the pas-
sages which perplexed Larkin. He unlocked the iron
safe, and took out the sheaf of Wylder's letters, and con-
ned the last one over very carefully.
A