334
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
say one is better heard when looked at than when not
seen; and I wish to speak rather low. for reasons."
Each looked the other in the eyes, with that uncertain
and sinister gaze which has a character both of fear and
menace.
"I have received those letters, Captain Lake, of which
I spoke to you when I last had the honour of seeing you,
as furnishing grave matter of suspicion, since when I
have not received one with Mr. Wylder's signature. But
I have received, only the other day, a letter from a new
correspondent — a person signing himself James Dutton
— announcing his belief that Mr. Mark Wylder is dead
— is dead— and has been made away with by foul means;
and I have arranged to meet him professionally, and to
hear the entire narrative, both of what he knows and of
what he suspects."
As Jos Larkin delivered this with stern features and
emphasis, the Captain's countenance underwent such a
change as convinced the attorney that some indescribable
evil had befallen Mark Wylder, and that Captain Bran-
don Lake had a guilty knowledge thereof. With this
conviction came a sense of superiority and a pleasant con-
fidence in his position, which betrayed itself in a slight
frown and a pallid smile, as he looked steadily in the
young man's face, with his small, crafty, hungry eyes.
Lake knew that his face had betrayed him. He had
felt the livid change of color, and that twitching at his
mouth and cheek which he could not control. He ground
his teeth, and returned Jos Larkin's intimidating smirk
with a look of fury, which — for he now believed he held
the winning cards — did not appal him.
"You know, sir," said Captain Lake, but a little husk-
ily, turning about and smiling at last, "that Mark Wyl-
der is nothing to me. We don't correspond: we have