WYLDER'S HAJVD.
461
"What body?"
"Mr. Wylder's, please, sir."
"The Vicar!" exclaimed Mr. Larkin, his smile of con-
descension suddenly vanishing.
"No, sir; Mr. Mark Wylder, please; the gentleman,
sir, as was to 'av married Miss Brandon."
"What the devil do you mean, woman ?" ejaculated the
attorney, his back to the fire, standing erect, and a black
shadow over his amazed and offended countenance.
"Beg your pardon, sir; but his body's bin found, sir."
"You mean Mr. Mark?"
"Yes, please, sir; in a hole near the mill road — it's
up in the " Silver Lion" now, sir."
"It must be the Vicar's — it must," said Jos Larkin,
getting his hat on, sternly, and thinking how likely he
was to throw himself into the mill race, and impossible it
was that Mark, whom he and Larcom had both seen alive
and well last night — the latter, indeed, this morning —
could possibly be the man. And thus confronting him-
self, he met old Major Jackson on the green, and that
gentleman's statement ended with the words: "and in an
advanced stage of decomposition."
"That settles the matter," said Larkin, breathing
again, and with a toss of his head, and almost a smile of
disdain: "for I saw Mr. Mark Wylder late last night at
Shillingsworth."
Leaving Major Jackson in considerable surprise, Mr.
Larkin walked off to Edwards' dwelling, at the top of
Church Street, and found that active policeman at home.
In his cool, grand, official way, Mr. Larkin requested Mr.
Edwards to accompany him to the " Silver Lion," where,
in the same calm and commanding way, he desired him to
attend him to view the corpse. In virtue of his relation
to Mark Wylder, and of his position as sole resident legal
practitioner, he was obeyed.