CHAPTER LVIII.
AN ENEMY IN REDMAN'S DELL.
Jos Larkin grew more and more uncomfortable about
the unexpected interposition of Rachel Lake as the day
wore on. He felt, with an unerring intuition, that the
young lady both despised and suspected him. He also
knew that she was impetuous and clever, and he feared a
fatal mischief—he could not tell exactly how — to his
plans.
Jim Dutton's letter had somehow an air of sobriety
and earnestness, which made way with his convictions.
His doubts and suspicions had subsided, and he now be-
lieved, with a profound moral certainty, that Mark Wylder
was actually dead, within the precincts of a mad-house or
of some lawless place of detention abroad. What was
that to the' purpose? Dutton might arrive at any mo-
ment. Low fellows are always talking; and the story
might get abroad before the assignment of the Vicar's in-
terest. Of course there was something speculative in
the whole transaction, but he had made his book well,
and by his "arrangement" with Captain Lake, which-
ever way the truth lay, he stood to win.
On the whole, he was not altogether sorry for the de-
lay. Every thing worked together he knew. One or
two covenants and modifications in the articles had struck
him as desirable, on reading the instrument over with
William Wylder. He also thought a larger consideration
should be stated and acknowledged as paid, say 22,000/.