WYLDER'S HAjYD.
337
forthcoming, to upset your title, under the will, through
Mrs. Dorcas Brandon Lake — your joint title — in favor
of the reversioner."
Lake only bit his lip and shook his head. The attorney
knew, however, that the danger was quite appreciated, and
went on —
"STou will, therefore, want a competent man — who
has the papers at his fingers' ends, and knows how to deal
ably — ably, sir, with a fellow of James Dutton's stamp
— at your elbow. The fact is, to carry you safely
through you will need pretty nearly the undivided atten-
tion of a well-qualified, able, and confidential practitioner;
and I need not say, such a man is not to be had for noth-
ing."
Lake nodded a seeming assent, which seemed to say, " I
have found it so."
"Now, my dear Captain Lake, I just mention this — I
put it before you — that is, because you know the county
is not to be contested for nothing — and you'll want a very
serious sum of money for the purpose, and possibly a
petition — and I can, one way or another, make up, with
an effort, about £15,000. Now it strikes me that it
would be the wisest thing, perhaps, my dear Captain Lake,
you ever did, to place me in the same boat with yourself."
"I don't exactly see."
"I'll make it quite clear." The attorney's tall fore-
head had a little pink flush over it at this moment, and
he was looking down a little and poking the base of Sir
William de Braundon's monument with the point of his
umbrella. "I wish, Captain Lake, to be perfectly frank,
and, as I said, above-board. You'll want the money, and
you must make up your mind to sell Five Oaks."
Captain Lake shifted his foot, as if he had found it on
a sudden on a hot flag.
16