WYLDER'S HAJVD.
423
depending on his special relations to the vendors in both
these cases. He wished, as was his custom, everything
above-board, and suoh " an opinion" as might be published
by either client in the " Times" next day if he pleased it.
Besides these matters of Wylder and of Lake, he had
also a clause to insert in a private Act, on behalf of the
trustees of the Baptist Chapel, at Naunton Friars; a
short deed to be consulted upon on behalf of his client,
Pudder Swynfen, Esq. of Swynfen Grange, in the same
county; and a deed to be executed at Shillingsworth,
which he would take en route for Gylingden, stopping
there for that night, and going on by next morning's train
Those little trips to town paid very fairly.
In this particular case his entire expenses reached ex-
actly 5/. 3s. and what do you suppose was the good man's
profit upon that small item? Precisely 62/. 7s.! The
process is simple. Jos Larkin made his own handsome
estimate of his expenses, and the value of his time to and
from London, and then he charged this in its entirety —
shall we say integrity — to each client separately. It
might have cost him 13/. 10s. and at that sum his expen-
ses figured in his ledger; and as he had five clients on
this occasion, the total reached 67/. 10s. leaving a clear
profit, as I have mentioned, of 62/. 7s. on this item.
Jos Larkin, Esq. was as punctual as the clock, at the
terminus. He did not come a minute too soon or too late,
but precisely at the moment which enabled him, without
fuss, and without a tiresome wait, to proceed to the de-
tails of ticket, luggage, selection of place, and ultimate
ascension thereto.
So now having taken all measures, gliding among the
portmanteaus, hand-barrows, aod porters, and the clangor-
ous bell ringing, he mounted, - lithe and lank, into his
place.