324
WYLDER'S HAND.
advance. So that thirty-two pounds, out of his bor-
rowed fifty, were forfeit for these items within a year and
a month. In the meantime the fifty pounds had gone, as
we know, direct to Cambridge; and he was called upon
to pay forthwith ten pounds for premium, and four pounds
ten shillings for "expenses." Quod impossibile.
The attorney had nothing for it but to try to induce
the lender to let him have another fifty pounds, pending
the investigation of title — another fifty, of which he was
to get, in fact, eighteen pounds. Somehow, the racking
off of this bitter vintage from one vessel into another did
not seem to improve its quality. On the contrary, things
were growing decidedly more awful.
Now, there came from Messrs. Burlington and Smith a
peremptory demand for the fourteen pounds ten shillings,
and an equally summary one for twenty-eight pounds four-
teen shillings and eight pence, their costs in this matter.
When the poor Vicar received this latter blow, he laid
the palm of his hand on the top of his head, as if to pre-
vent his brain from boiling over. Twenty-eight pounds
fourteen shillings and eight pence! Quod impossibile
again.
When he saw Larkin, that conscientious guardian of his
client's interests scrutinised the bill of costs very jealously,
and struck out between four and five pounds. He explain-
ed to the Vicar the folly of borrowing insignificant and
insufficient sums — the trouble, and consequently the cost,
of which were just as great as of an adequate one. He was
determined, if he could, to pull him through this. But
he must raise a sufficient sum, for the expense of going
into title would be something; and he would write sharply
to Burlington, Smith, and Co. and had no doubt the costs
would be settled for twenty-three pounds. And Mr. Jos
Larkin's opinion upon the matter was worthy of respect,