308
WYLDER'S HJlJVD.
Y This delay is attended with more serious mischief.
The Vicar, his brother, had a promise of money from him,
and is in very great embarrassments; and, in fact, were
it not for some temporary assistance, which I may men-
tion — although I don't speak of such things — I aff;rd-
ed him myself, he must have been ruined."
"Don't you think he might take steps to relieve him-
self considerably?"
I don't see it, Captain Lake," said the attorney, sad-
ly and drily.
"Well, you know best; but are not there resources?"
"I don't see, Captain Lake, what you point at."
"I'll give him something for his reversion, if he choos-
es, and make him comfortable for his life."
"I don't know, sir, that the Eeverend Mr. Wylder
would entertain anything in the nature of a sale of his
reversion. I rather think the contrary. I don't think
his friends would advise it."
"And why not! It was never more than a contin-
gency; and now they say that Mark Wylder is married,
and has children; they tell me he was seen at Ancona,"
said Lake tranquilly.
"They tell you! who are they?" said the attorney,
and his dove's eyes were gone again, and the rat's eyes
unequivocally looking out of the small pink lids.
"They—they," repeated Captain Lake. "Why, of
course, sir, I use the word in its usual sense — that is,
there is, there was a rumor when I was last in town, and
I really forget who told me. Some one, two, or three,
perhaps."
"Do you think it's true, sir?" persisted Mr. Larkin.
"No, sir, I don't," said Captain Lake, fixing his eyes
for a moment with a frank stare on the attorney's face;
"but it is quite possible it may be true."